Patent ID: 8921557

Claim:
A process for converting a compound according to Formula I or a salt thereof to a compound according to Formula III or a salt thereof, the process comprising: (a) oxidizing the compound according to Formula I or a salt thereof in a continuous flow reactor for up to 30 minutes at a temperature in the range of 80-160° C. to form the compound according to Formula II or a salt thereof wherein R 1 is selected from H; CH 3 ; C 2 -C 6 alkyl, optionally unsaturated and/or branched; and C 1 -C 4 alkyl, substituted with cycloalkyl group(s) and R 2 and R 3 are selected from H and CH 3 ; and (b) isolating the compound according to Formula II or a salt thereof, followed by a reduction reaction to form a compound according to Formula III or a salt thereof; or (c) reducing the compound according to Formula II or a salt thereof, without isolation, to form a compound according to Formula III or a salt thereof wherein R 1 is selected from H; CH 3 ; C 2 -C 6 alkyl, optionally unsaturated and/or branched; and C 1 -C 4 alkyl, substituted with cycloalkyl group(s) and R 3 is selected from H and CH 3 .