Patent ID: 7189849

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula: wherein R 10 is C 3 –C 21 saturated, optionally substituted alkyl and R 11 is isopropyl or isobutyl, comprising a) deprotecting the acetal of the compound of the formula: wherein R 6 and R 7 are loweralkyl or benzyl or R 6 and R 7 taken together are —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 — or —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 — and R 10 is as defined above; b) reducing the aldehyde substituent of the product of step a) to provide the alcohol of the formula: wherein R 10 is as defined above; p 1 c) reacting the product of step b) with P 1 NHCH(R 11 )COOH or an activated derivative thereof or with P 1 NHCH(R 11 )C(O)—O—C(O)CH(R 11 )NHP 1 wherein R 11 is as defined above and P 1 is an N-protecting group; and d) N-deprotecting the product of step c).