A process for the preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)-1-aminoindan (2) is disclosed, which comprises the formation of a diastereomeric salt of 1-aminoindan with 2,3,4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid, wherein the salt formation preferably takes place in an organic solvent or a mixture of an organic solvent and water, and wherein the organic solvent may be selected from the group comprising methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol and mixtures thereof. The disclosure also relates to the conversion of (R)-1-aminoindan (2) formed to rasagiline (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferably rasagiline mesylate salt.
