Patent ID: 7135574

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula I wherein Q is a mono- or poly-substituted phenyl, pyridyl or heteroaryl group so selected that the compound of formula I has a pK value of from 1 to 5; D and E together are C 2 –C 3 alkylene, which may be mono- or poly-substituted by R 6 ; A is C 1 –C 2 alkylene, which may be mono- or poly-substituted by R 5 ; and R 1 , R 2 , R 5 and R 6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C 1 –C 4 alkyl, phenyl, C 1 –C 4 alkoxy, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl or C 1 –C 4 alkoxycarbonyl; a) converting a compound of formula II wherein R 1 , R 2 , A, D and E are as defined for formula I, either in the presence of an amine base and a catalytic amount of a cyanide or in the presence of an alkali metal alcoholate or alkaline earth metal alcoholate, to a salt of formula III wherein R 1 , R 2 , A, D and E are as defined for formula I and M + is an alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion or ammonium ion, b) reacting that compound with a compound of formula IV wherein X is a leaving group and Q is as defined for formula I, to yield a compound of formula V wherein R 1 , R 2 , A, D, E and Q are as defined for formula I, and c) converting that compound in the presence of catalytic amounts of cyanide ions and in the presence of a base to a compound of formula I.