The present invention provides a process for preparing highly pure montelukast and salts thereof by reacting the side-chain precursor 1-(mercaptomethyl)-cyclopropaneacetic acid with 2-(2-(3S)-(3-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)-ethenyl)phenyl)-3-(methanesulfonyloxypropyl)phenyl-2-propanol in a solvent mixture containing a base.