Certain compounds, compositions and methods

1. A method of producing compound 1a:

or a pharmaceutically salt thereof;

comprising reducing compound 25:

to produce compound 1a:

or a pharmaceutically salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of purifying the final product by preparative HPLC.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction is carried out in the presence of sodium borohydride.

4. A method of producing compound 1a:

or a pharmaceutically salt thereof;

comprising the steps of:

(a) hydrogenating compound 24:

to produce compound 25:

and

(b) reducing compound 25 to produce compound 1a:

or a pharmaceutically salt thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising a step of purifying the final product by preparative HPLC.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of rhodium on alumina.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein step (b) is carried out in the presence of sodium borohydride.

8. A crystalline form of compound 1a:

9. The crystalline form of compound 1a of claim 8 , having a primitive trigonal cell with dimensions:

a=9.78961(18) Å

c=20.4588(7) Å

V=1698.02(7) Å.