Patent ID: 7091354

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of Formula Va, a compound of Formula Vb, or a mixture thereof: wherein: each R 1 is, independently, H, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl; each R 2 is, independently, H or a hydroxyl protecting group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, aralkylcarbonyl and silyl; each R A is, independently, halo, alkyl, halo-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, OR, C(O)R, C(O)OR, OC(O)R, NHC(O)R, NHSO 2 R, SO 2 NRR, aminocarbonyl, amino, nitro, cyano, or SR, wherein each R is, independently, H, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl; and n is 0 to 5; or a salt thereof; comprising providing a compound of Formula IIa, a compound of Formula IIb, or a mixture thereof: and substituting the secondary hydroxyl group of said compound of Formula IIa, said compound of Formula IIb, or said mixture thereof with hydrogen to provide the compound of Formula Va, the compound of Formula Vb, or the mixture thereof, wherein said substitution comprises hydrogenation, ionic dehydroxylation or radical deoxygenation.