A process for producing a chiral compound of the formula ##STR34## wherein R is phenyl, W-substituted phenyl, naphthyl, W-substituted naphthyl, benzodioxolyl, heteroaryl, W-substituted heteroaryl, benzofused heteroaryl and W-substituted benzofused heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, oxazolyl and furanyl, and for nitrogen-containing heteroaryls, the N-oxides thereof;
- R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from H or R;
- W is 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, hydroxy lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, alkoxycarbonylalkoxy, (lower alkoxyimino)-lower alkyl, lower alkanedioyl, lower alkyl lower alkanedioyl, allyloxy,
- --CF.sub.3, --OCF.sub.3, benzyl, R.sup.3 -benzyl, benzyloxy, R.sup.3 -benzyloxy, phenoxy, R.sup.3 -phenoxy, dioxolanyl, NO.sub.2, --NR.sup.4 R.sup.5, NR.sup.4 R.sup.5 (lower alkyl)-, NR.sup.4 R.sup.5 (lower alkoxy)-, OH, halogeno, --NHC(O)OR.sup.6, --NHC(O)R.sup.6, R.sup.7 O.sub.2 SNH-, (R.sup.7 O.sub.2 S).sub.2 N--, --S(O).sub.2 NH.sub.2, --S(O).sub.0-2 R.sup.4, tert-butyldimethyl-silyloxymethyl, --C(O)R.sup.8, ##STR35## A and D are independently a bond;
- C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkylene;
- C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene;
- C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkenylene;
- C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkynylene;
- an alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene chain as defined substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl, W-substituted phenyl, heteroaryl and W-substituted heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is as defined above;
- an alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene chain as defined interrupted by one or more groups independently selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --SO--, --SO.sub.2 --, --NR.sub.8, --C(O)--, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkylene, phenylene, W-substituted phenylene, heteroarylene and W-substituted heteroarylene;
- or an interrupted alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene chain as defined substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl, W-substituted phenyl, heteroaryl and W-substituted heteroaryl;
- or R.sup.2 -D is selected from the group consisting of halogeno, OH, lower alkoxy, --OC(O)R.sup.6, --NR.sup.4 R.sup.5, --SH and --S(lower alkyl);
- R.sup.3 is 1-3 groups independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, --COOH, NO.sub.2, --NR.sup.4 R.sup.5, OH or halogeno;
- R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from H and lower alkyl;
- R.sup.6 is lower alkyl, phenyl, R.sup.3 -phenyl, benzyl or R.sup.3 -benzyl;
- R.sup.7 is OH, lower alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, R.sup.3 -phenyl or R.sup.3 -benzyl;
- R.sup.8 is H, OH, alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, ##STR36## --NR.sup.4 R.sup.5, lower alkyl, phenyl or R.sup.3 -phenyl;
- R.sup.9 is --O--, --CH.sub.2 --, --NH-- or --N(lower alkyl)--;
- R.sup.10 is H, lower alkyl, phenyl lower alkyl or --C(O)R.sup.11 ;
- R.sup.11 is H, lower alkyl, phenyl or phenyl lower alkyl;
- provided that when A is a bond, R.sup.1 is not H, and provided that when R.sup.1 is W-substituted phenyl, W is not p-halogeno;
- comprising cyclizing a hydroxyamide of the formula ##STR37## wherein D, A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R are as defined above, by treating with:
- a dialkylchlorophosphate and either a metal hydride, or an aqueous solution of a base and a phase transfer catalyst.