Process for preparing bile acid derivatives

1. A process for preparing a compound of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein

the dashed bond (----) at position 7 indicates that the substituent is in an α or β stereochemistry;

R is hydrogen or hydroxy; and

R 1 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl,

comprising the step of

Step 4: converting a compound of formula V to a compound of formula VI:

wherein Step 4 comprises reacting a compound of formula V with RuCl 3 , NaIO 4 , and an acid to form a compound of formula VI.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is ethyl.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from

4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of Step 6: converting a compound of formula VII to a compound of formula I-Na comprising reacting a compound of formula VII with a sulfonating agent to form a salt of formula I-Na:

5. The process of claim 4 , further comprising the step of Step 5: converting a compound of formula VI to a compound of formula VII comprising reacting a compound of formula VI with a reducing agent to form a compound of formula VII

6. The process of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of Step 1: esterification of a compound of formula II to a compound of formula III

Step 2: a Grignard reaction to form a compound of formula IV from a compound of formula III:

and

Step 3: protection of a compound of formula IV to a compound of formula V: