NOVELTY - Improved process (p1) for preparation of 4,5-dimethoxy-1-cyano-benzocyclobutane (X) comprises: (a) reducing 3-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propanenitrile (XI) by reacting with lithium compound (l1) in presence of base at temperature not less than -30 degrees C in first organic solvent; (b) quenching reaction mixture with ammonium chloride; (c) treating aqueous layer with second organic solvent; (d) acidifying organic layer; (e) concentrating the organic layer to obtain residue; (f) treating the residue with 1-8C alcohol under heating; and (g) cooling the reaction mass to isolate (X).    USE - The process is useful for preparation of (X) that is used to prepare ivabradine hydrochloride (claimed), where the ivabradine hydrochloride is used to treat myocardial ischemia (angina pectoris, myocardial infarct and associated rhythm disturbances) and heart failure. No biological data given.    ADVANTAGE - The process: eliminates the use of lithium aluminum hydride type reagents; and provides (I) by cost effective, easily scalable, eco-friendly and non-hazardous method.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Improved process (p1) for preparation of 4,5-dimethoxy-1-cyano-benzocyclobutane of formula (X) comprises: (a) reducing 3-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propanenitrile of formula (XI) by reacting with lithium compound of formula (l1) in presence of base at temperature not less than -30 degrees C in a first organic solvent; (b) quenching the reaction mixture with ammonium chloride; (c) treating aqueous layer with second organic solvent; (d) acidifying the organic layer at an ambient temperature; (e) concentrating the organic layer to obtain residue; (f) treating the residue with 1-8C alcohol under heating; and (g) cooling the reaction mass to isolate (X).    R = 1-8C alkyl, preferably n-butyl.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) an improved process (p2) for preparation of ivabradine hydrochloride (I) comprising: (a1) reducing (XI) by reacting with (l1) in presence of base in a first organic solvent to obtain (X); (b1) reducing (X) by hydrogenating with metal catalyst in a polar solvent in presence of base at 60-70 degrees C at 30 bar pressure for 4-6 hours; (c1) reacting racemic amine that is C-(3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1(6),2,4-trien-7-yl)-methylamine (IX) obtain in (b1) with ethyl chloroformate in presence of base in organic solvent; (d1) reducing carbamate ester that is (3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1(6),2,4-trien-7-ylmethyl)-carbamic acid ethyl ester (VIII) obtained in (b1) by reacting with sodium bis(2-methoxy-ethoxy)aluminum hydride in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent at an elevated temperature to obtain methylated compound that is (3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1(6),2,4-trien-7-ylmethyl)-methyl-amine (VII); (e1) resoluting (VII) with resolving agent to obtain resolved methylated amine that is 1-((7S)-3,4-dimethoxybicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl)-N-methyl-methanamine (VI) in a mixture of polar protic solvent and water at 50-120 degrees C; (f1) converting (VI) to its acid addition salts preferably hydrochloride salt that is 1-((7S)-3,4-dimethoxybicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl)-N-methyl-methanamine hydrochloride (V); (g1) reacting (V) with 1-bromo-3-chloropropane (IV) in presence of base to provide 3-chloro-N-(((7S)-3,4-dimethoxybicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl)methyl)-N-methyl propan-1-amine (III); and (h1) reacting (III) with 7,8-dimethoxy-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo(d)-azepin-2-one (II) in presence of base in solvent to provide (I), and if desired, converting (I) to its salts, solvate or hydrates;    (2) an improved process (p3) for preparation of ivabradine or its salts, comprising: resolving (IX) with p-di-toluyl tartaric acid; condensing resolved amine that is C-((S)-3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1(6),2,4-trien-7-yl)-methylamine (VIII-A) with ethyl chloroformate to obtain carbamate ester that is ((S)-3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1(6),2,4-trien-7-ylmethyl)-carbamic acid ethyl ester (VII-A); reducing carbamate ester with sodium bis(2-methoxy-ethoxy)aluminum hydride to obtain resolved (VI); converting (VI) to its acid addition salt; condensing (V) with (III); and converting compound (III) to ivabradine or its salts;    (3) an improved process (p4) for preparation of (I) comprising: combining ivabradine base and a solvent that is water, 1-4C ester, 2-8C ether, 1-8C alcohol, acetonitrile, aromatic hydrocarbon or 2-8C ketone; adding hydrochloric acid to provide a pH of 1-3 to obtain ivabradine hydrochloride; and recovering ivabradine hydrochloride;    (4) an improved method (p5) of purification of (I) comprising crystallizing (I) in water or a solvent comprising 3-8C ketones, 3-4C esters, 2-8C alcohols, ethers, acetonitrile and/or water;    (5) ivabradine hydrochloride in beta -crystalline form having X-ray powder diffraction peaks at 6.8, 9.2, 10.0, 12.2, 13.8, 14.8, 15.7, 16.9, 18.4, 18.8, 19.7, 21.3, 21.6, 23.0, 25.3, 27.4 and 29.3 degrees 2- theta ; and    (6) an improved process (p6) for preparation of (II) comprising: acetylating homoveratrylamine in organic solvent at an elevated temperature to obtain N-acetyl homoveratrylamine (B1); reacting (B1) with phosphorus oxychloride in hydrocarbon solvent at 70-120 degrees C to obtain 6,7-dimethoxy-1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline (B2); reacting (B2) with ditert-butyl dicarbonate in solvent to obtain N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-6,7-dimethyoxy-1-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro isoquinoline (B3); reacting (B3) with lead tetra acetate in organic solvent followed by treatment with glycerol and water to obtain N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-7,8-dimethyoxy-1,3,4,5- tetrahydro-2H-benzapin-2-one (B4); hydrolyzing (B4) with triflouroacetic acid to obtain (IV); and optionally converting (IV) to ivabradine or its salts.