The title compound was prepared from 3-(6-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester [prepared by the following procedure: A mixture of 3-carboxyphenylboronic acid (4.82 g, 29.07 mmol) and 3-bromo-2-methylpyridine (5.00 g, 29.07 mmol) in acetonitrile (145 mL) and 0.4M Na2CO3-solution (145 mL) was degassed and Pd(Ph3P)4 (1.68 g, 5 mol %) was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 16 h, evaporated to dryness (cf. Synlett 2000, 829). The residue was suspended in MeOH (400 mL) and SOCl2 (10.5 mL, 145 mmol) was added dropwise at 23° C. and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 4 h. Evaporated to dryness, taken up in EtOAc, washed with sat. NaHCO3-solution and brine, dried over Na2SO4. Removal of the solvent in vacuum left a brown oil, which was purified by silica gel column chromatography with cyclohexane/EtOAc.] (3.87 g, 17.0 mmol) by treatment with lithium tert-butyl acetate according to general procedure K (method b). Obtained as a yellow oil (4.73 g).
