Process for preparing [(3-hydroxypyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]alkanoic acids, esters and amides

A compound having the formula:

• wherein M is a salt forming cation and N represents the cationic charge on M;
• A is a ring chosen from:
• i) C6 or C10 aryl;
• or
• ii) C1-C9 heteroaryl;
• R10 units represent at least one optionally present substitutions for a ring hydrogen atom;
• or two R10 units can be taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted C4-C8 cycloalkyl ring, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 or C10 aryl ring, a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C8 heterocyclic ring, or a substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C5 heteroaryl ring, wherein the heterocyclic and heteroaryl rings comprise one or more hetero atoms independently chosen from oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), or sulfur (S).
• L is a linking unit having the formula:
• —(CR7aR7b)n—
• R7a and R7b are each independently:
• i) hydrogen;
• or
• ii) C1-C6 linear, C3-C6 branched or C3-C6 cyclic alkyl;
• R8 is chosen from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl;
• and
• the index n is an integer from 1 to 4.