To a flask containing 3-bromo-1-perhydro-2H-pyran-2-yl-1H-indazole-5-carbonitrile (400 mg, 1.30 mmol) in dimethyl glycol ether (15 mL) was added potassium phosphate (2.75 g), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II), complex with dichloromethane (1:1) (106 mg, 0.130 mmol), and benzo[b]furan-2-boronic acid (315 mg, 1.95 mmol). The reaction mixture was brought to 90° C. under nitrogen conditions for 18 hours. The mixture was condensed and extracted with water (25 mL) and ethyl acetate. The extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was then purified by chromatography (SiO2, 20% ethyl acetate/hexanes) to afford the title compound (278 mg, 62%). ES-MS (m/z) 344 [M+1]+.
