A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: reacting a compound represented by structural formula: with a compound represented by structural formula (a): to form a compound represented by structural formula: wherein: P 1 is an alcohol protecting group; R is -(CH 2) m X; X is COOR 1; R 1 is an alkyl group; and m is 1, 2 or 3, wherein the process further comprises: (a) reacting the compound of structural formula with a second alcohol protecting group to form a compound represented by structural formula: and (b) converting the compound of structural formula to a tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: (c) hydrogenating the tricyclic compound of structural formula to form a hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: and (d) converting the hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula to a compound represented by structural formula in the presence of a reducing agent, a base and an acid: wherein said converting (d) accomplishes cleaving of the protective group P 1 and ester hydrolysis of R 1 in a single pot. reacting a compound represented by structural formula: with a compound represented by structural formula (a): to form a compound represented by structural formula: wherein: P 1 is an alcohol protecting group; R is -(CH 2) m X; X is COOR 1; R 1 is an alkyl group; and m is 1, 2 or 3, wherein the process further comprises: (a) reacting the compound of structural formula with a second alcohol protecting group to form a compound represented by structural formula: and (b) converting the compound of structural formula to a tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: (c) hydrogenating the tricyclic compound of structural formula to form a hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: and (d) converting the hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula to a compound represented by structural formula in the presence of a reducing agent, a base and an acid: wherein said converting (d) accomplishes cleaving of the protective group P 1 and ester hydrolysis of R 1 in a single pot. P 1 is an alcohol protecting group; R is -(CH 2) m X; X is COOR 1; R 1 is an alkyl group; and m is 1, 2 or 3, wherein the process further comprises: (a) reacting the compound of structural formula with a second alcohol protecting group to form a compound represented by structural formula: and (b) converting the compound of structural formula to a tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: (c) hydrogenating the tricyclic compound of structural formula to form a hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: and (d) converting the hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula to a compound represented by structural formula in the presence of a reducing agent, a base and an acid: wherein said converting (d) accomplishes cleaving of the protective group P 1 and ester hydrolysis of R 1 in a single pot. (a) reacting the compound of structural formula with a second alcohol protecting group to form a compound represented by structural formula: and (b) converting the compound of structural formula to a tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: (c) hydrogenating the tricyclic compound of structural formula to form a hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula: and (d) converting the hydrogenated tricyclic compound represented by structural formula to a compound represented by structural formula in the presence of a reducing agent, a base and an acid: wherein said converting (d) accomplishes cleaving of the protective group P 1 and ester hydrolysis of R 1 in a single pot.