A process is provided for the process for preparing a pyrrolotriazine aniline p38 kinase inhibitor such as amide II ##STR00001## by the direct aminolysis of the ester I ##STR00002## wherein ester I is reacted with a strong organometallic base, such as hexyllithium or n-butyllithium and the desired amine such as n-propylamine to form the amide II.