8-Chloro-2-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (56 mg, 0.255 mmol) was dissolved in toluene and copper sulfate (6.3 mg. 0.0255 mmol) was added, followed by 1,10-phenanthroline (9.18 mg, 0.051 mmol) and potassium carbonate (70.38 mg, 0.51 mmol). 5-(Bromoethynyl)-2-methylpyridine (50 mg, 0.255 mmol) dissolved in toluene was added and the mixture purged with nitrogen in it. The reaction mixture was heated at 85° C. overnight. The reaction was monitored by TLC and LCMS. Toluene was concentrated under vacuum and the residue washed with water. The crude product was purified by column chromatography using 0-3% MeOH:DCM as eluent, to give the product as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (CDCl3, freebase) δ (ppm): 8.65 (s, 1H), 7.70 (d, 1H), 7.48 (d, 1H), 7.38 (s, 1H), 7.25 (d, 1H), 7.16 (d, 1H), 3.60 (s, 2H), 2.96 (m, 2H), 2.80 (m, 2H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 3H).
