4-Mercapto-indan-1-one (Step 1, 210 mg, 1.28 mmol), 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (74 mg, 0.13 mmol), 4-bromo-3,5-dimethyl-benzonitrile (269 mg, 1.28 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.88 mL, 5.1 mmol) are dissolved in 1,4-dioxane (2 mL). The mixture is degassed with N2, tris(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0) (117 mg, 0.13 mmol) added and heated under microwave irradiation at 120° C. for 2 hours. The solution is concentrated under vacuum. The crude product obtained is purified by flash chromatography (10-80% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) to give the title compound (Yield: 330 mg). LC (METHOD 5): tR=1.36 min; Mass spectrum (ES+): m/z=294 [M+H]+.
