Patent ID: 8022167

Claim:
A process for the synthesis of a compound as described by the structure of Formula (I) comprising contacting a compound as described by the structure of Formula (II) with a chemical oxidant, and optionally also with a dehydrogenation catalyst, in liquid ammonia neat, or in a mixture of liquid ammonia and a polar, aprotic solvent, to form a reaction mixture; and heating the reaction mixture to produce a Formula (I) compound; wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from (a) H; (b) a hydrocarbyl group; (c) NR 3 R 4 wherein R 3 and R 4 are each independently selected from H and a hydrocarbyl group; wherein R 5 is a hydrocarbyl group; and (e) YR 6 wherein Y is selected from O and S and R 6 is selected from H, a hydrocarbyl group, and wherein R 5 is a hydrocarbyl group.