BigPatents India

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of compounds of general formula (I), wherein R2a, R2b are, independently from each other, hydrogen; halogen; lower alkoxy; cyano; -COOH; lower alkoxycarbonyl; or lower alkyl, optionally substituted by halogen; and R3a, R3b are, independently from each other, hydrogen; lower alkyl; lower cycloalkyl or, if taken together, -(CH2)n with n=2,3 or 5. The compounds of formula (I) are valuable intermediates for the manufacture of therapeutically active compounds such as 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-N-methyl-N-(6-morpholin-4-yl-4-o-tolyl-pyridin-3-yl)-isobutyramide and 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-N-methyl-N-(2-morpholin-4-yl-4-o-tolyloxy-pyrimidin-5-yl)-isobutyramide.