Patent ID: 7718796

Claim:
A process for the preparation of (3R,6S)-3-amino-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-2-one, said process comprising the steps of: (1) hydrogenating a (3S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-azepin-3-ammonium salt, in the presence of a cis-selective catalyst, to form a (3S,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-ammonium salt; and (2) reacting the (3S,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-ammonium salt with R 3 N, wherein each R is independently C 1-4 alkyl, and a hydroxyl nitrobenzaldehyde.