To a solution of (R)-5-(1-aminopropyl)nicotinonitrile hydrochloride (0.081 g, 0.411 mmol) in anhyd NMP (2.0 mL) was added DIEA (0.215 mL, 1.232 mmol) via syringe. The mixture was stirred 15 min and 3-ethynyl-4-fluorophthalonitrile (0.0635 g, 0.373 mmol) was added in one portion. The mixture was stirred at rt under N2 for 36 h, poured into satd NaHCO3 and extracted with EtOAc (×3). Combined organics were washed (water, brine), dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in anhyd DMF (3 mL), CuI (0.036 g, 0.187 mmol) was added and the mixture was subjected to microwave heating (140° C.) for 30 min. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate was diluted 1:1 with heptane and concentrated in vacuo (3× heptane chase). The residue was purified by low pressure liquid chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc/hexanes, gradient elution) affording (R)-1-(1-(5-cyanopyridin-3-yl)propyl)-1H-indole-4,5-dicarbonitrile (0.0407 g, 0.131 mmol, 35.0% yield) as a yellow gum: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.83 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.69 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (t, J=2.1 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=3.4 Hz, 1H), 7.53 (s, 2H), 7.00 (d, J=3.4 Hz, 1H), 5.50 (dd, J=8.7, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.53-2.34 (m, 2H), 1.03 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H); MS (LCMS ES+) m/z 312 ([M+H]+, 6%), 353 ({[M+H]+MeCN}+, 100%).
