Processes are provided which create an aldehyde methylene, or hydrated or hemiacetal methylene attached to a heteroatom of a 6 membered ring without going through an olefinic group and without the necessity of using an osmium reagent. In particular, a compound of formula (I) can be produced from (II) and avoid the use of an allyl amine: (formulae I and II) where R, P1 P3, R3 and Rx are as described herein.