Patent ID: 8124761

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of formula (I): which comprises either (a) reacting a compound of formula (II): with 2-cyanophenol, or a salt thereof, in the presence of between 0.1 and 2 mol % of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, or (b) reacting a compound of the formula (III): with a compound of the formula (IV): in the presence of between 0.1 and 2 mol % of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane; where W is the methyl (E)-2-(3-methoxy)acrylate group C(CO 2 CH 3 )═CHOCH 3 or the methyl 2-(3,3-dimethoxy)propanoate group C(CO 2 CH 3 )CH(OCH 3 ) 2 , or a mixture of the two groups.