Process for preparing bicyclic compounds

A process for preparing compounds of formula (IA) starting from compounds of formula (I) by a coupling reaction catalysed by copper between compounds of formula (I) and a reactive derivative of the upper residue —NR″2R″3

• wherein
• R is aryl or heteroaryl, each of which may be substituted by 1 to 4 groups selected from:
• halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halo C1-C6 alkoxy, —C(O)R5, nitro, —NR6R7, cyano, and a group R8;
• R1 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halo C1-C6 alkyl, halo C1-C6 alkoxy, halogen, NR6R7 or cyano;
• R5 is C1-C4 alkyl, —OR6 or —NR6R7;
• R6 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl;
• R7 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl;
• R8 is a 5-6 membered heterocycle, which may be saturated or may contain one to three double bonds, and which may be substituted by 1 or more R11 groups;
• R9 is C1-C6 alkyl that may be substituted by one or more groups selected from:
• C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, haloC1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxyl and haloC1-C6 alkyl;
• R11 is C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halo C1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, cyano, or C(O)NR6R7;
• X is halogen;
• R″ corresponds to R;
• R″1 corresponds to R1;
• R2 is hydrogen, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a group R9;
• R3 is C3-C7 cycloalkyl or a group R9;
• or
• R2 and R3 together with N form a 5-14 membered heterocycle, which may be substituted by 1 to 3 R10 groups;
• R″4 is hydrogen;
• R″5 corresponds to R5;
• R″6 corresponds to R6;
• R″7 corresponds to R7;
• R″8 corresponds to R8;
• R″9 corresponds to R9;
• R10 is a group R8, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, halo C1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, cyano, C(O)NR6R7 or phenyl which may be substituted by 1 to 4 R11 groups;
• and
• R″11 corresponds to R11.