Patent ID: 7482449

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of the formula IA, or a salt thereof, wherein T, U, V and W are each independently selected from the group consisting of (1) nitrogen, and (2) methine, wherein the methine group is unsubstituted or optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of (a) halogen, (b) lower alkyl, (c) hydroxy, and (d) lower alkoxy, and wherein at least two of T, U, V, and W are methine; comprising the steps of (a) combining a strong base with a compound of formula A in an aprotic solvent to form a solution; (b) reacting a compound of formula B wherein wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of: (a) lower alkyl, and (b) —CH 2 -phenyl, wherein the phenyl group is unsubstituted or substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of (1) lower alkyl, (2) lower alkoxy, and (3) —NO 2 , with the solution of step (a) to form a solution; (c) adjusting the pH of the solution of step (b) to between about 0 and 4 with an acid to form a compound of formula E (d) contacting the compound of formula F of step (c), wherein at least one of T, U, V and W is nitrogen, with an acid to form a salt of compound E; and (e) treating compound E, or a salt thereof, with an acid to form a salt of compound IA.