Patent ID: 8318937

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of formula (A), (B) or (C): wherein R is independently H, CH 3 or a hydroxyl protecting group; X is O, a protected ketone, OH, a protected hydroxyl group or H; Y is OH, a protected hydroxyl group or H; W is C(CH 3 ) 2 OH, C(CH 3 )(C(CH 3 ) 3 )OH or COCH 3 ; Z is C 2 -C 10 alkyl; and is a single bond or a double bond; comprising reacting a compound of formula (D), (E) or (F): wherein R, X, Y, W and are as defined above, with a compound of formula (G): wherein Z is as defined above, in the presence of hydrogen and a reductive alkylation catalyst.