Patent ID: 8618331

Claim:
A process for preparing an aryl-fused cycloheptanone or a heteroaryl-fused cycloheptanone of formula (i): wherein Z is an aryl or a heteroaryl and each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl, and optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl; wherein the process comprises: a) combining a reactant of formula (ii): wherein each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl, and optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, with a reactant of formula (iii): wherein Z is the aryl or the heteroaryl, as defined above, and each LG is independently a suitable leaving group, in the presence of a protic solvent, an aprotic solvent selected from an ether, and a base to form a product; and b) subjecting the product of step a) to a basic hydrolytic media followed by acid to form the aryl-fused cycloheptanone or a heteroaryl-fused cycloheptanone of formula (i).