A mixture of 2,5-dichloro-4-iodopyridine (0.2 g, 0.73 mmol), 7-amino-2-methyl-3H-isoindol-1-one (0.118 g, 0.73 mmol), palladium(II) acetate (6.56 mg, 0.03 mmol), 9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)xanthene (0.025 g, 0.04 mmol) and cesium carbonate (0.476 g, 1.46 mmol) were suspended in dioxane (5 mL). The mixture was heated at 100° C. for 30 minutes in a microwave reactor and then allowed to cool to room temperature. The mixture was loaded onto an SCX column and the product eluted first with MeOH and then with a 7M solution of NH3 in MeOH. Fractions containing product were combined and evaporated. A solid recovered from the top of the column was washed with water, dried in vacuo, and combined with the evaporated residue to afford 7-[(2,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)amino]-2-methyl-3H-isoindol-1-one (0.160 g, 71% yield); 1H NMR spectrum: (300 MHz, DMSO) δ 3.07 (3H, s), 4.50 (2H, s), 7.25-7.28 (1H, m), 7.48 (1H, s), 7.56-7.63 (2H, m), 8.36 (1H, s), 9.80 (1H, s); Mass spectrum: m/z (ESI+) (M+H)+=308.01 and 309.97 and 311.99.
