A process for the preparation of a compound of formula: or a salt or oxide thereof, wherein Alk is an alkyl group; M 1 is N or CR 8, wherein R 8 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; M 2 is N or CR 9, wherein R 9 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl; R 3 and R 4 are, the same or different from one another and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, or R 3 and R 4, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group; R 5 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl,-OH, and -OPG; R 6 is independently selected at each location from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl, -OH, and -OPG; R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl,-OH, and -OPG; or R 4 and R 7 can combine to form -(CH 2) m -; PG is a protecting group independently selected from the group consisting of tetrahydropyranyl, methoxymethyl, silyl, and benzyl; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and m is 0 or 1; said process comprising: treating a first intermediate compound of formula wherein LG is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of imidazolyl, O-alkyl, O-aryl, O-heteroalkyl, and O-heteroaryl, and Alk, M 1, M 2, R 1, and R 2 are defined supra: wherein treating comprises reacting the first intermediate with a second intermediate of formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl and R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, and n are the same as defined supra under conditions effective to form the compound of formula. wherein Alk is an alkyl group; M 1 is N or CR 8, wherein R 8 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; M 2 is N or CR 9, wherein R 9 is H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl; R 3 and R 4 are, the same or different from one another and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, or R 3 and R 4, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group; R 5 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl,-OH, and -OPG; R 6 is independently selected at each location from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl, -OH, and -OPG; R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylaryl,-OH, and -OPG; or R 4 and R 7 can combine to form -(CH 2) m -; PG is a protecting group independently selected from the group consisting of tetrahydropyranyl, methoxymethyl, silyl, and benzyl; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and m is 0 or 1; said process comprising: treating a first intermediate compound of formula wherein LG is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of imidazolyl, O-alkyl, O-aryl, O-heteroalkyl, and O-heteroaryl, and Alk, M 1, M 2, R 1, and R 2 are defined supra: wherein treating comprises reacting the first intermediate with a second intermediate of formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl and R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, and n are the same as defined supra under conditions effective to form the compound of formula.