A degassed solution of 3-(nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonyloxy)-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (422 mg, 0.83 mmol), 4bromo -2-fluoroaniline (206 mg, 1.08 mmol), Pd2 dba3 (38 mg, 0.04 mmol), Xantphos (48 mg, 0.08 mmol) and DBU (316 μl, 2.08 mmol) in toluene (1 ml) was subjected to microwave irradiation at 150° C. for 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature then diluted with ethyl acetate (30 ml). The resultant solution was washed with water (20 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a solid residue. The solid residue was purified by flash chromatography (Si-SPE, pentane:diethyl ether, gradient 90:10 to 70:30) to afford the title compound as a white solid (210 mg, 64%). LCMS (method B): RT=3.78 min, M+H+=395/397.
