A process for preparing a compound of formula 6a: wherein, R is H, C 1-6 aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; R 1 is independently selected from -R J, -OR J, -N(R J) 2, -NO 2, halogen, -CN, -C 1-4 haloalkyl, -C 1-4 haloalkoxy, -C N(R J) 2, -NR J C R J, -SOR J, -SO 2 R J, -SO 2 N(R J) 2,-NR J SO 2 R J, -COR J, -CO 2 R J, -NR J SO 2 N(R J) 2, -COCOR J; R J is hydrogen or C 1-6 aliphatic; o is an integer from 0 to 3 inclusive; and p is an integer from 0 to 5 inclusive; comprising the steps of: ib) providing compound 2a and compound 3a, wherein, R 1 is independently selected from -R J, -OR J, -N(R J) 2, -NO 2, halogen, -CN, -C 1-4 haloalkyl, -C 1-4 haloalkoxy, -C N(R J) 2, -NR J C R J, -SOR J, -SO 2 R J, -SO 2 N(R J) 2,-NR J SO 2 R J, -COR J, -CO 2 R J, -NR J SO 2 N(R J) 2, -COCOR J; R J is hydrogen or C 1-6 aliphatic; o is an integer from 0 to 4 inclusive; and p is an integer from 0 to 5 inclusive; iib) cross coupling compound 2a and compound 3a in a biphasic mixture comprising water, a first organic solvent, a first base, and a transition metal catalyst to produce compound 4a, wherein, R 1, o, and p are defined for compounds 2a and 3a above; iiib) oxidizing compound 4a to produce compound 5a, wherein, R 1, o, and p are as defined for compounds 2a and 3a above; ivb) adding an amine group to the 6 position of the pyridyl moiety to produce compound 6a, wherein the amination reaction is carried out in the presence of a sulfonyl compound, wherein, R is H, C 1-6 aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; and R 1, o, and p are as defined for compounds 2a and 3a above. R is H, C 1-6 aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; R 1 is independently selected from -R J, -OR J, -N(R J) 2, -NO 2, halogen, -CN, -C 1-4 haloalkyl, -C 1-4 haloalkoxy, -C N(R J) 2, -NR J C R J, -SOR J, -SO 2 R J, -SO 2 N(R J) 2,-NR J SO 2 R J, -COR J, -CO 2 R J, -NR J SO 2 N(R J) 2, -COCOR J; R J is hydrogen or C 1-6 aliphatic; o is an integer from 0 to 3 inclusive; and p is an integer from 0 to 5 inclusive; ib) providing compound 2a and compound 3a, wherein, R 1 is independently selected from -R J, -OR J, -N(R J) 2, -NO 2, halogen, -CN, -C 1-4 haloalkyl, -C 1-4 haloalkoxy, -C N(R J) 2, -NR J C R J, -SOR J, -SO 2 R J, -SO 2 N(R J) 2,-NR J SO 2 R J, -COR J, -CO 2 R J, -NR J SO 2 N(R J) 2, -COCOR J; R J is hydrogen or C 1-6 aliphatic; o is an integer from 0 to 4 inclusive; and p is an integer from 0 to 5 inclusive; R 1 is independently selected from -R J, -OR J, -N(R J) 2, -NO 2, halogen, -CN, -C 1-4 haloalkyl, -C 1-4 haloalkoxy, -C N(R J) 2, -NR J C R J, -SOR J, -SO 2 R J, -SO 2 N(R J) 2,-NR J SO 2 R J, -COR J, -CO 2 R J, -NR J SO 2 N(R J) 2, -COCOR J; R J is hydrogen or C 1-6 aliphatic; o is an integer from 0 to 4 inclusive; and p is an integer from 0 to 5 inclusive; iib) cross coupling compound 2a and compound 3a in a biphasic mixture comprising water, a first organic solvent, a first base, and a transition metal catalyst to produce compound 4a, wherein, R 1, o, and p are defined for compounds 2a and 3a above; iiib) oxidizing compound 4a to produce compound 5a, wherein, R 1, o, and p are as defined for compounds 2a and 3a above; ivb) adding an amine group to the 6 position of the pyridyl moiety to produce compound 6a, wherein the amination reaction is carried out in the presence of a sulfonyl compound, wherein, R is H, C 1-6 aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; and R 1, o, and p are as defined for compounds 2a and 3a above. R is H, C 1-6 aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; and R 1, o, and p are as defined for compounds 2a and 3a above.