NOVELTY - Preparing substituted 2-amino-5-(5-(heterocyclylmethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid compounds (I), comprises: (a) reacting substituted pyridin-3-yl-methanol compound (II) with methylsulfonyl chloride to give mesylate intermediate (IIa), and upon quenching of reaction and partially or completely removing solvent, reacting (IIa) with an optionally-brominated compound (IIb) to give brominated pyridine compound (III); (b) reacting (III) with substituted hydroxy-benzoic acid ester compound (IV) to give substituted pyridin-2-yloxy-benzoic acid ester compound (V); and (c) hydrogenating (V).    USE - The process is useful for preparing substituted 2-amino-5-(5-(heterocyclylmethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid compounds (I) (claimed) which are useful as intermediates for synthesizing hepatitis C virus polymerase inhibitors.    ADVANTAGE - The process is less expensive, utilizes commercially available starting materials, and has shortened synthetic steps with better yields, improved scalability, easier handling, enhanced safety, reduced contamination to the environment, and more efficient isolation and purification of the product.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Preparing substituted 2-amino-5-(5-(heterocyclylmethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid compounds of formula (I) or their salts, comprises: (a) reacting substituted pyridin-3-yl-methanol compound of formula (II) with methylsulfonyl chloride in the presence of a suitable solvent and at a suitable reaction temperature to give mesylate intermediate of formula (IIa), and upon quenching of the reaction and partially or completely removal of the solvent, reacting (IIa) with an optionally-brominated compound of formula (BrmR1) (IIb) in the presence of a suitable base, solvent and at a suitable reaction temperature to provide brominated pyridine compound of formula (III); (b) reacting (III) with substituted hydroxy-benzoic acid ester compound of formula (IV) or its salt in the presence of a suitable base, solvent and reaction temperature to provide substituted pyridin-2-yloxy-benzoic acid ester compound of formula (V); and (c) hydrogenating (V) in the presence of a suitable catalyst, solvent and reaction temperature to provide (I).    R1 = 1H-pyrazolyl, 1H-imidazolyl, 2H-(1,2,3)triazolyl, 1H-(1,2,4)triazolyl, 2H-tetrazolyl, 2,3-dihydro-(1,3,4)thiadiazolyl, 1,4-dihydro-pyridinyl, 1,2-dihydro-pyridinyl, 3,4-dihydro-(1,2,4)triazinyl, 1H-benzoimidazolyl, 1H-benzotriazolyl, 1H-pyrrolo(2,3-b)pyridinyl, 3H-imidazo(4,5-b)pyridinyl, 1H-indolyl, 1H-indazolyl or 1H-imidazo(4,5-c)pyridinyl;    R2 = H, F, Cl, CN, CF3, 1-6C alkyl, 3-12C cycloalkyl or -O-(1-6C)alkyl;    R3 = H, F, Cl, CN, 1-6C alkyl, -OH, -O-(1-6C)alkyl, S-(1-6C)alkyl, -NH2, -NH(1-6C)alkyl, -NH(3-12C)cycloalkyl, -N((1-6C)alkyl (3-12C)cloalkyl) or -N((1-6C)alkyl)2;    R4, R5 = H, (1-6C) alkyl, (3-12C)cycloalkyl or oxo (C(=O));    R6-R9 = H, F, Cl, 1-6C alkyl or 3-12C cycloalkyl;    R10 = 1-6C alkyl, 3-12C cycloalkyl, or H, where each of R1-R10 is optionally substituted by at least one of H, F, Cl, CF3, oxo, 1-6C alkyl, 3-12C cycloalkyl, 1-6C alkyl 3-12C cycloalkyl, -OH, -SH, -O(1-6C)alkyl, -S(1-6C)alkyl, -NH2, -NH(1-6C)alkyl or aryl;    m = 0-3; and    R11 = halo.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for preparing (III) or its salt comprising step (a) as above per se.