A process for making zaleplon comprising alkylating 3-[3-(dimethylamino)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]-phenyl]-acetamide with ethyl iodide in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide or alkoxide selected from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, sodium tert-butoxide or potassium tert-butoxide in an aprotic solvent to give N-ethyl-[3-[3-(dimethylamino)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]-phenyl]-acetamide, condensing N-ethyl-[3-[3-(dimethylamino)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]-phenyl]-acetamide and 3-amino-4-cyanopyrazole, and isolating zaleplon from the reaction. Preferably, the condensing is done in the presence of (a) a water immiscible organic acid; (b) a cation exchange resin; or (c) a water miscible organic acid in water or in a C-1 to C-4 alcohol or in a mixture of water and a C-1 to C-4 alcohol.