Disclosed herein is a process for preparing N benzyl 3 hydroxypyridin 2 (1H) ones that are substituted at the pyridine ring 4 position with a 4 carbamoylpiperazin 1 yl moiety. The process comprises A) reacting 3 hydroxypyridin 2(1 H) one with a benzylating agent in the presence of a silylating reagent that provides at least 2 equivalents of a silyl protecting group and a proton source to form a N benzyl 3 hydroxypyridin 2(1 H) one and B) reacting the N benzyl 3 hydroxypyridin 2(1 H) one formed in Step (A) with a carbamoylpiperazine in the presence of a source of formaldehyde and an acid to form the substituted N benzyl 3 hydroxypyridin 2 (1 H) one.
