Patent ID: 6916346

Claim:
a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (1) comprising (a) reacting a compound of formula (2) with a benzly halide to produce a compound of formula (3) (b) catalytically hydrogenating the compound of formula (3) to provide a compound of formula (4) (c) reductively aminating of the compound of formula (4) with a reducing agent and a reactant of the formula RCHO or a C 3 to C 6 cyclic ketone to provide a compound of formula (5) and (d) catalytically hydrogenating the compound of formula (5) to produce a compound of formula (1) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of C 1 to C 5 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, a C 3 to C 6 cyclic ring containing hetero atoms selected from O,S and N atoms, and —CH 2 Ar where Ar is an aromatic ring wherein the aromatic ring may be substituted with one or two hydroxy, C 1 to C 3 alkoxy, or amino groups.