A process for the preparation of a compound of formula wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-4 alkyl and C 3-10 cycloalkyl; m is an integer from 1 to 2; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of-OCHR 3 R 4 and -Z-Ar; R 3 is hydrogen and R 4 is a C 3-10 cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring; wherein the C 3-10 cycloalkyl or the heterocycloalkyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with -C 1-4 alkyl or acetyl; alternatively, R 3 and R 4 are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a C 3-10 cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring; wherein the C 3-10 cycloalkyl or the heterocycloalkyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with -C 1-4 alkyl or acetyl; Z is selected from the group consisting of S and O; Ar is a phenyl or heteroaryl; wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three R 5 substituents; wherein each R 5 substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, -C 1-4 alkyl, -OH, -OC 1-4 alkyl, -SC 1-4 alkyl, -CN, -CONR a R b, and -NO 2; and wherein R a and R b are each independently -H or -C 1-4 alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug thereof, wherein "prodrug" refers to compounds having an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more amino acid residues, covalently joined through an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxyl, or carboxylic acid group of a compound of formula; compounds prepared by derivatizing free hydroxyl groups using groups including hemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, and phosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls; carbamate derivatives of hydroxyl and amino groups; carbonate derivatives, sulfonate esters and sulfate esters of hydroxyl groups; compounds produced by derivatization of hydroxyl groups as (acyloxy)methyl and (acyloxy)ethyl ethers, wherein the acyl group may be an alkyl ester, optionally substituted with one or more ether, amine or carboxylic acid functionalities, or where the acyl group is an amino acid ester, and compounds produced by derivatization of free amines as amides, sulfonamides or phosphonamides; comprising reacting a compound of formula with a compound of formula, wherein LG 1 is a first leaving group and LG 2 is a second leaving group, in the presence of a base, in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula; reacting the compound of formula with an aldehyde or ketone derivative of the desired R 1 substituent group; in the presence of a reducing agent; in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula; reacting the compound of formula with a compound of formula; in the presence of a first inorganic base; in an organic solvent; or reacting the compound of formula with a compound of formula (XIII); in the presence of a second inorganic base; in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula. R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-4 alkyl and C 3-10 cycloalkyl; m is an integer from 1 to 2; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of-OCHR 3 R 4 and -Z-Ar; R 3 is hydrogen and R 4 is a C 3-10 cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring; wherein the C 3-10 cycloalkyl or the heterocycloalkyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with -C 1-4 alkyl or acetyl; alternatively, R 3 and R 4 are taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a C 3-10 cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring; wherein the C 3-10 cycloalkyl or the heterocycloalkyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with -C 1-4 alkyl or acetyl; Z is selected from the group consisting of S and O; Ar is a phenyl or heteroaryl; wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three R 5 substituents; wherein each R 5 substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, -C 1-4 alkyl, -OH, -OC 1-4 alkyl, -SC 1-4 alkyl, -CN, -CONR a R b, and -NO 2; and wherein R a and R b are each independently -H or -C 1-4 alkyl; reacting a compound of formula with a compound of formula, wherein LG 1 is a first leaving group and LG 2 is a second leaving group, in the presence of a base, in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula; reacting the compound of formula with an aldehyde or ketone derivative of the desired R 1 substituent group; in the presence of a reducing agent; in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula; reacting the compound of formula with a compound of formula; in the presence of a first inorganic base; in an organic solvent; or reacting the compound of formula with a compound of formula (XIII); in the presence of a second inorganic base; in an organic solvent; to yield the corresponding compound of formula.