The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of Escitalopram of the Formula I, which consists of sequential two Grignard reactions on 5-cyanophthalide, isolation of Diol compound of Formula VI as an oxalate salt, resolution of Diol compound and cyclization of resolved compound of Formula VII. The present invention provides a process to obtain pure Diol compound by preparing its Oxalate salt, which is useful for resolution of enantiomers. AUROBINDO PHARMA LIMITED PLOT NO.2, MAITRIVIHAR COMPLEX, AMEERPET, HYDERABAD-500 038(A.P) INDIA Andhra Pradesh India AUROBINDO PHARMA LIMITED 1014/CHE/2005 A 1014/CHE/2005 INDIA 2009-03-20T06:17:51Z 2007-07-20 2005-07-27 295720 A61K 31/343 NA VIPIN KUMAR KAUSHIK, MOHAMMED UMAR KHAN, MEENAKSHISUNDERAM SIVAKUMARAN 26607 0 292 NA NA 2007-07-20 0 uFTJJDV 2009-04-30T18:36:41Z 5725 VIPIN KUMAR KAUSHIK, MOHAMMED UMAR KHAN, MEENAKSHISUNDERAM SIVAKUMARAN 245 AUROBINDO PHARMA