摘要 |
<p>A process for the preparation of a compound of structure (I) <CHEM> in which, each group R is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C3-6allyl, phenylC1-6alkyl or 4-hydroxyphenylC1-6alkyl; R<1>, R<2> and R<3> are hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R<4> is hydrogen or hydroxy: and n is 1 to 3 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which comprises reduction of a compound of structure (II) <CHEM> in which R, R<2> to R<4> and n are as described above and R<5> is hydrogen or a cation, followed by cyclisation of the intermediate so formed, and, optionally, alkylating to form a compound of structure (I) in which R<1> is C1-6alkyl and, optionally, forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, characterised in that the reduction of the compound of structure (II) is carried out by catalytic transfer hydrogenation in water as a solvent.</p> |