The solution of 2,5-dichloro-4-iodopyridine (100 g, 365 mmol), 2-aminobenzonitrile (43.1 g, 365 mmol) and potassium triphosphate (233 g, 1095 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (2.5 L) was degassed by N2 stream. To this solution was added DPEPhos (15.73 g, 29.2 mmol) and palladium acetate (3.28 g, 14.60 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 18 hour. The solution was filtered through 0.5 in. celite and 0.2 inch of silica. The solution was evaporated. Solid was suspended in the diethyl ether and filtered. Diethyl ether was concentrated, and the resulting solid was filtered. 2-[(2,5-Dichloro-4-pyridinyl)amino]benzonitrile (80 g, 288 mmol, 79% yield) was isolated as an orange solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm 6.49 (s, 1 H) 7.50 (td, J=7.58, 1.01 Hz, 1 H) 7.56 (d, J=7.58 Hz, 1 H) 7.80 (td, J=7.83, 1.77 Hz, 1 H) 7.95 (dd, J=7.83, 1.52 Hz, 1 H) 8.26 (s, 1 H) 9.05 (brs, 1 H); HPLC Rt=2.88 min, MS (ESI): 263.9, 265.9 [M+H]+.
