NOVELTY - Preparation of granisetron and its salts involves a) reacting N-methyl-indazole-3-carboxylic acid with thionyl chloride, in the presence of N,N-dimethylformamide, to give 1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl chloride; condensing 1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl chloride with pure 9-methyl-9-aza-bicyclo(3.3.1)non-3-ylamine, which further reacted with hydrogen chloride to give granisetron hydrochloride.    USE - For preparation of pure granisetron or its salts (claimed) useful for prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with radiation, including total body irradiation and fractionated abdominal radiation.    ADVANTAGE - The processes are simple, improved, ecologically-friendly, cost-effective, commercially viable, robust, and reproducible on an industrial scale. The improved process allows preparation of 1-methyl-indazole-3carboxylic acid and endo-3-methyl-azabicyclo (3.3.1)nonan-3-amine with very high purity; and allows preparation of pure granisetron and its salts, free of process related impurities. The pure endo-3-methyl-azabicyclo(3.3.1)nonan-3-amine benzoic acid (IVb) (granatamine) obtained has a purity of at least 98% (preferably at least 99.9%), as determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) preparation of endo-9-methyl-9-azabicyclo(3.3.1)non-3-amine (granatamine) and its salts involving a1) reacting glutaraldehyde with mixture of methyl amine hydrochloride and 1,3-acetone dicarboxylic acid, in the presence of aqueous disodium hydrogen orthophosphate and water, to give 9-methyl-9-aza-bicyclo(3.3.1)nonan-3-one, b1) reacting 9-methyl-9-aza-bicyclo(3.3.1)nonan-3-one with a mixture of sodium acetate and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, in the presence of methanol, to give 9-methyl-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1)non-3-one oxime, and c1) reducing 9-methyl-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1)non-3-one oxime with raney nickel and hydrogen, in a basic medium and isopropanol as a solvent, to give endo-9-methyl-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1)nonan-3-amine;    (2) purification of endo-9-methyl-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1)nonan-3-amine involving a2) reacting a solution of a crude granatamine in a organic solvent with an organic acid to form granatamine compound of formula (IVa), b2) isolating the organic acid addition salt (IVa), and c2) suspending the acid addition salt in a non-polar solvent and adding an aqueous inorganic base, then isolating a purified endo-9-methyl-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1)nonan-3-amine;    (3) new pure endo-3-methyl-azabicyclo (3.3.1)nonan-3-amine benzoic acid having formula (IVb) (X not defined); and    (4) preparation of 1N-methyl-3-indazole carboxylic acid as key intermediate for the preparation of granisetron and its salts involving a3) reacting 1H-indole-2,3-dione with a methylating agent, in the presence of a sodium hydride and solvent, to give 1-methyl-1H-indole-2,3-dione, b3) reacting 1-methyl-1H-indole-2,3-dione with trimethyl orthoformate, in the presence of a solvent, to give ketal protected 3,3-dimethoxy-1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one, c3) hydrolyzing ketal protected 3,3-dimethoxy-1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one under basic conditions, followed by N-amination using chloramine and acid mediated cyclization, to give 1N-methyl-3-indazole carboxylic acid.    A-=organic acid such as benzoic acid, formic acid, succinic acid or oxalic acid.