The invention provides a preparation method of a
tamoxifen citrate E isomer, which comprises the following steps: 1) with an intermediate for preparing
tamoxifen citrate and having a
structural formula as shown in the formula I as a
raw material, performing a
dehydration reaction in an acid condition in a
mixed solution of water and
organic solvent at certain proportion to obtain a mixture of an intermediate 1 with a
structural formula as shown in the formula II and an intermediate 2 with a
structural formula as shown in the formula III; 2) in an
organic solvent of certain amount, enabling the intermediate 1 and the intermediate 2 to react with
citric acid or
hydrate thereof, and cooling for
crystallization to obtain a mixture of Z-
tamoxifen citrate with a structural formula as shown in the formula IV and E-
tamoxifen citrate with a structural formula as shown in the formula V; and 3) in the water and
organic solvent at certain proportion, performing twice recrystallization of the mixture of Z-
tamoxifen citrate and E-
tamoxifen citrate. The method provided by the invention can be used for preparing a high-purity tamoxifen citrate E isomer, provides an
impurity reference substance for the National Institutes for Food and
Drug Control, and solves the problem in E-isomer detection in a practical production process.