Patent ID: 7375251

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of Formula I: wherein: R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12 alkyl, heteroaryl and aryl; or R 1 and R 2 together form a group of formula —(CH 2 ) n — that is optionally substituted with from 1-3 substituents selected from the group consisting of CN, NO 2 , C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, halogen, OH, NR 5 R 5′ , CHO, COOR 5 , CONR 5 R 5′ , SR 5 , —O-aryl and —O-heteroaryl; R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 alkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CN, NO 2 and halogen; R 5 and R 5 , are each, independently, H or C 1-6 alkyl; and n is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7; comprising: a) reacting an α-haloacetamide of Formula IV: wherein X 1 is Cl or Br, and R 1 and R 2 are defined as hereinabove; with a compound of Formula V: wherein R 4 is H or C 1-6 alkoxy, and R 3 is defined as hereinabove; in the presence of base and optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst for a time and under conditions effective to form a phenoxyacetamide of Formula VI wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , are defined as hereinabove; b) reacting the phenoxyacetamide of Formula VI with a reducing agent for a time and under conditions effective to form said compound of Formula I.