Patent ID: 7378533

Claim:
A process to prepare a compound according to formula (I), wherein R N is —L—G, wherein L is -aryl-, -heteroaryl-, —(C 8 -C 30 )alkyl-, —(C 6 -C 20 )haloalkyl-, —(C 3 -C 10 )cycloalkyl-, or -heterocyclyl-; and G is —S(O) 2 OM, wherein M is H, Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs; R is —L 1 —R′, wherein, L 1 is a bond, —(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-O—, -aryl-, or —(C 3 -C 10 )cycloalkyl-; and R′ is —(C 8 -C 30 )alkyl, —(C 6 -C 20 )haloalkyl, or —((C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-O) j —R″, wherein j is an integer from 2 to 100; and R″ is —H or methyl; and m is an integer from 1 to 4, comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a furanyl compound of formula (IV), wherein R is —L 1 —R′, wherein, L 1 is a bond, —(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-O—, -aryl-, or —(C 3 -C 10 ) cycloalkyl-; and R′ is —(C 8 -C 30 )alkyl, —(C 6 -C 20 )haloalkyl, or —((C 1 -C 4 )alkyl-O) j -R″, wherein j is an integer from 2 to 100; and R″ is —H or methyl; and m is an integer from 1 to 4; with a maleimide compound of formula (V), wherein R N is —L—G, wherein L is -aryl-, -heteroaryl-, —(C 8 -C 30 )alkyl-, —(C 6 -C 20 )haloalkyl-, —(C 3 -C 10 )cycloalkyl-, or -heterocyclyl-; and G is —S(O) 2 OM, wherein M is H, Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs; in an optional polar organic solvent; and (iii) heating the composition to a temperature of about 25° C. to about 55° C.