PROVIDED HEREIN ARE IMPROVED, COMMERCIALLY VIABLE AND INDUSTRIALLY ADVANTAGEOUS PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION OF A SUBSTANTIALLY PURE TICAGRELOR INTERMEDIATE, 4,6-DICHLORO-5-NITRO-2- (PROPYLTHIO)PYRIMIDINE, FORMULA (II). THE INTERMEDIATE IS USEFUL FOR PREPARING TICAGRELOR, OR A PHARMACEUTICALLY ACCEPTABLE SALT THEREOF, IN HIGH YIELD AND PURITY.