A process for preparing a compound of formula (M): wherein: each Ring A is independently selected from monocyclic or bicyclic aryl, monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, and heterocyclyl; Nu is an alkyl group; X and Y are each CH; each R A is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heterocyclyl, halo, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, monocyclic or bicyclic aralkyl, -N(R 2 )(R 2 ), cyano, and -OR 2 ; each R 2 is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halo, thiol, C 1 -C 6 thioalkyl, -NR"R", C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl, wherein each of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, cycloalkyl, and heterocyclyl is independently substituted with 0-5 occurrences of R b , or 2 R 2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocyclyl ring; each R b is independently selected from hydrogen, halo, cyano, hydroxyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, -C(O)R', C(O)OR', C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, -NR'R', and cycloalkyl, wherein cycloalkyl is substituted with 0-5 occurrences of R'; each R' is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, and C 1 -C 6 alkyl; each R" is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C(O)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C(O)-NR'R', and -C(S)-NR'R'; and each q is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, the process comprising 1,2-addition of a nucleophile to a compound of formula (L): wherein each Ring A, R A , X, Y, and q is as defined above, and wherein said nucleophile is an alkyl Grignard or an enolate; followed by cleavage of the N-sulfinyl group to yield the compound of formula (M). each Ring A is independently selected from monocyclic or bicyclic aryl, monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, and heterocyclyl; Nu is an alkyl group; X and Y are each CH; each R A is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heterocyclyl, halo, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, monocyclic or bicyclic aralkyl, -N(R 2 )(R 2 ), cyano, and -OR 2 ; each R 2 is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halo, thiol, C 1 -C 6 thioalkyl, -NR"R", C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, and heterocyclylalkyl, wherein each of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, cycloalkyl, and heterocyclyl is independently substituted with 0-5 occurrences of R b , or 2 R 2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocyclyl ring; each R b is independently selected from hydrogen, halo, cyano, hydroxyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyl, -C(O)R', C(O)OR', C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 heteroalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, -NR'R', and cycloalkyl, wherein cycloalkyl is substituted with 0-5 occurrences of R'; each R' is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, and C 1 -C 6 alkyl; each R" is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C(O)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C(O)-NR'R', and -C(S)-NR'R'; and each q is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, the process comprising 1,2-addition of a nucleophile to a compound of formula (L): wherein each Ring A, R A , X, Y, and q is as defined above, and wherein said nucleophile is an alkyl Grignard or an enolate; followed by cleavage of the N-sulfinyl group to yield the compound of formula (M). <EOS>