Provided herein is an impurity of eletriptan, eletriptan N-oxide, (R)-5-[2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]-3-[(l-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl-N-oxide)methyl]-lH-indole, and a process for the preparation and isolation thereof. Provided further herein is a highly pure eletriptan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof substantially free of eletriptan N-oxide impurity, processes for the preparation thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising highly pure eletriptan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof substantially free of eletriptan N-oxide impurity.