Antifungal compound process

1. A process to prepare a compound of formula IX or IXa,

or a mixture thereof, the process comprising:

(i) combining compound 1 or 1a,

 or a mixture thereof, a sulfonic acid

 and a crystallization solvent or crystallization solvent mixture;

(ii) diluting the mixture from step (i) with a crystallization co-solvent or crystallization co-solvent mixture; and

(iii) isolating a compound of formula IX or IXa,

 or a mixture thereof;

wherein each Z is independently aryl, substituted aryl, alkyl, or substituted alkyl.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein Z is phenyl, p-tolyl, methyl, or ethyl.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the crystallization solvent or crystallization solvent mixture is ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, or acetonitrile, or combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the crystallization co-solvent or crystallization co-solvent mixture is pentane, methyl tert-butylether, hexane, heptane, or toluene, or combinations thereof.