Patent ID: 7498431

Claim:
A process for preparing compounds of formula I comprising: (a) making an ester IV from 3(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-propionic acid wherein R 2 is alkyl; (b) activating the alkyl hydroxy group IV by contacting compound IV with an activating agent to form V wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of alkylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl and arylsulfonyl; wherein if R 2 is methyl then R 3 is not methane sulfonyl; (c) reacting an activated 3(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-propionic acid ester derivative V with an aniline; the aniline comprising at least one substituent R 1; wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, alkyl, O-alkyl, N-dialkyl, S-alky, aryl, and O-aryl; in the presence of alkali halide and solvent to form a compound of formula I