Process for preparing macrocyclic compounds

A process for preparing a compound of the following formula (I):

• wherein Q is a substituent of the following formula:
• the olefin group attached to the cyclopropyl ring is in the configuration syn to the A group as represented by the following structure:
• W is N;
• L0 is selected from H, —OH, —OCH3 and —N(CH3)2;
• one of L1 and L2 is —CH3, —F, —Cl or —Br and the other of L1 and L2 is H, or both L1 and L2 are H;
• R2 is
• wherein R6 is NH—R7 or NH—C(O)—R7, wherein R7 is independently:
• C1-6 alkyl, or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• R3 is NH—C(O)—OR10, wherein R10 is C1-6 alkyl, or C3-6 cycloalkyl;
• R4 is H or C1-6 alkyl;
• D is a 5-atom saturated alkylene chain;
• and
• A is a carboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof;
• said process comprising the step of cyclyzing a diene compound of formula (IX) in the presence of a suitable catalyst to obtain a compound of the formula (I):
• and when A is a protected carboxylic acid group, optionally subjecting the compound of formula (I) to deprotection (e.g., hydrolysis) conditions to obtain a compound of formula (I) wherein A is a carboxylic acid group;
• and when A is a carboxylic acid group in the resulting compound of formula (I), optionally coupling this compound with a sulfonamide of formula R11ASO2NH2 in the presence of a suitable coupling agent, such as TBTU or HATU, to obtain a compound of formula (I) wherein A is —C(O)—NH—SO2R11A.