Patent ID: 7553987

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of the formula: wherein R is H, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, optionally substituted, and linear branched or cyclic alkenyl, optionally substituted, wherein the optional substituents are selected from one or more of alkenylalkyl, alkynylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclealkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkenylalkyl, arylcycloalkyl, and arylheterocycloalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted wherein the optional substituents are selected from one or more of alkenylalkyl, alkynylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclealkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkenylalkyl, arylcycloalkyl, and arylheterocycloalkyl, halo, phenyl, cyano, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cyano, alkoxy, alkylthio, amino, —NH(alkyl), —NH(cycloalkyl), —N(alkyl) 2 , carboxy and —C(O)O-alkyl, from a compound of the formula: said process comprising: a) removing the ketal protecting group by hydrolysis from a compound of formula II to form a compound of the formula: followed by coverting a compound of formula III, with or without, isolation to an oxime of the formula: and b) oxidizing the compound of formula (IV) with a peroxomolybdenum complex complex or sodium molybdate/hydrogen peroxide catalyst.