To a vial containing palladium(II) acetate (4.3 mg, 0.019 mmol) and butyldi-1-adamantylphosphine (13.9 mg, 0.039 mmol) was added 1,4-dioxane (300 ul). The vial was evacuated and refilled with Ar (3×). The solution was warmed to 70° C. for 20 minutes. In a separate vial were combined pivalic acid (9.9 mg, 0.097 mmol), cesium fluoride (44 mg, 0.29 mmol), 2-bromo-4-isopropylpyridine (purchased from CombiPhos Catalysts, Inc.) (29 mg, 0.15 mmol), (R)-4-((1-cyclobutylethyl)amino)-7-methyl-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carbonitrile (40 mg, 0.097 mmol) and 1,4-dioxane (0.5 mL). The mixture was degassed with Ar for 15 minutes, and the catalyst solution was added to the mixture. The resulting mixture was stirred at 130° C. for 3 days. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in DCM and purified by silica gel chromatography (0-100% ethyl acetate/hexanes, linear gradient) to give (R)-4-((1-cyclobutylethyl)amino)-2-(4-isopropylpyridin-2-yl)-7-methyl-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carbonitrile. MS ESI calc'd for C30H31F3N6 [M+H]+ 533. found 533.
