Patent ID: 6949650

Claim:
A process for the racemisation of a compound of formula I comprising the steps of a) reacting an enantiomerically enriched compound of formula I in which R 1 represents an amine protecting group, with a compound of formula II R 2 X II in which R 2 represents a group of formula R 3 SO 2 —in which R 3 represents optionally substituted phenyl, a C 1-6 alkyl group or a trifluoromethyl group and X represents halo to give a compound of formula III in which i) R 2 represents a group of formula R 3 SO 2 —in which R 3 represents optionally substituted phenyl, a C 1-6 alkyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, b) reacting the compound of formula III with a compound of formula IV in which M represents an alkali metal and R represents H, a C 1-6 alkyl group, optionally substituted phenyl or an (optionally substituted phenyl)hydroxyC 1-6 alkyl group to give a substantially racemic compound of formula V in which R 1 and R are as previously defined; and c) reacting the compound of formula V with a hydrolysing agent to give a substantially racemic compound of formula I.