Patent ID: 8541411

Claim:
A process for the preparation of the benzimidazole of formula (3) comprising the steps of ester hydrolyzing the methyl ester of formula (2) with lithium hydroxide in THF/water, wherein R2 is selected from H, —NHRa, alkoxy, halogen, —CF 3 , —CHF 2 , and C 1-6 alkyl; R3 is selected from aryl and heteroaryl, wherein said aryl or heteroaryl may be substituted by one to three Rc; R4 is selected from H or Ra; each R5 is independently selected from C 1-6 alkyl; each Ra is independently selected from C 1-3 alkyl; each Rc is independently selected from C 1-3 alkyl, halogen, —CF 3 , and hydroxy; and n is 0-2.