A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), wherein A is an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; each n is independently selected from 1 and 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: 1) optionally substituted -C 1 -C 8 alkyl; 2) optionally substituted -C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; 3) optionally substituted 3- to 12- membered heterocyclic; alternatively, two adjacent R 1 groups are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a fused ring; two geminal R 1 groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spiro ring; or two R 1 groups on nonadjacent carbon atoms are taken together to form a bridging group, such as -CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 -; said process comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a compound of formula (VII), wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkenyl, 3- to 8- membered heterocyclic, aryl, and heteroaryl; and X is a leaving group; with a compound of formula (VII-X), wherein PG is hydrogen or an amine protecting group; to produce a compound of formula (VIII): (b) reacting the compound of formula (VIII) with a compound of formula (IX): to produce a compound of formula (X): (c) reacting the compound of formula (X) with a compound of formula (III) wherein R 5 is 1-imidazolyl or nitrophenyl-O- ; to produce a compound of formula (V), and (d) reacting the compound of formula (V) with a cyclizing reagent to form the compound of formula (I). A is an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; each n is independently selected from 1 and 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: 1) optionally substituted -C 1 -C 8 alkyl; 2) optionally substituted -C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; 3) optionally substituted 3- to 12- membered heterocyclic; 1) optionally substituted -C 1 -C 8 alkyl; 2) optionally substituted -C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; 3) optionally substituted 3- to 12- membered heterocyclic; alternatively, two adjacent R 1 groups are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a fused ring; two geminal R 1 groups are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spiro ring; or two R 1 groups on nonadjacent carbon atoms are taken together to form a bridging group, such as -CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 -; (a) reacting a compound of formula (VII), wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkenyl, 3- to 8- membered heterocyclic, aryl, and heteroaryl; and X is a leaving group; with a compound of formula (VII-X), wherein PG is hydrogen or an amine protecting group; to produce a compound of formula (VIII): (b) reacting the compound of formula (VIII) with a compound of formula (IX): to produce a compound of formula (X): (c) reacting the compound of formula (X) with a compound of formula (III) wherein R 5 is 1-imidazolyl or nitrophenyl-O- ; to produce a compound of formula (V), and (d) reacting the compound of formula (V) with a cyclizing reagent to form the compound of formula (I). <EOS>