Process for preparation of aminocyclohexyl ethers and intermediate products used in the process

A compound of formula II

• wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently is bromine, chlorine, fluorine, carboxy, hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxy methyl, methanesulfonamido, cyano, sulfamyl, trifluoromethyl, —CHF2, —SO2N(R6)R7, —OCF3, C1-6alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C2-7alkoxycarbonyl, C2-C7alkanoyloxy, aryl or —N(R4)R5;
• with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2 or R3 is other than hydrogen;
• and
• R4, R5, R6 or R7 each independently is hydrogen, acetyl, methanesulfonyl or C1-6alkyl;
• X and Y each independently is hydrogen, hydroxyl, amino, C1-6alkoxy, C6-14aryloxy, C1-6alkylamino, C6-14arylamino, or silyloxy, or X and Y together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form C═O, with the proviso that at least one of X and Y is other than hydrogen;
• Z is a hydroxyl protecting group;
• and
• is a single or double bond, and wherein when is a double bond, one of X or Y is absent and the one of X or Y present is other than hydrogen.

A process for preparing a compound of formula II,

• wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently is bromine, chlorine, fluorine, carboxy, hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxy methyl, methanesulfonamido, cyano, sulfamyl, trifluoromethyl, —CHF2, —SO2N(R6)R7, —OCF3, C2-C7alkanoyloxy,
• C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, C2-7alkoxycarbonyl, aryl or —N(R4)R5;
• with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2 or R3 is other than hydrogen;
• and
• R4, R5, R6 or R7 each independently is hydrogen, acetyl, methanesulfonyl or C1-6alkyl;
• X and Y each independently is hydrogen, hydroxyl, amino, C1-6alkoxy,
• C6-14aryloxy, C1-6alkylamino, C6-14arylamino, or silyloxy, or X and Y together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form C═O, with the proviso that at least one of X and Y is other than hydrogen;
• Z is a hydroxyl protecting group;
• and
• is a single or double bond, and wherein when is a double bond, one of X or Y is absent and the one of X or Y present is other than hydrogen;
• the process comprising:
• reacting a compound of formula III
• wherein Z is a protecting group, with an epoxide of formula IV
• optionally silylating the reaction product to form the silyloxy group.