Triisopropylsilanethiol (6.7 mL, 31.2 mmol) was dissolved in THF (75 mL) at 0° C. and sodium hydride (1.25 g, 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 31.3 mmol) was added, then the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature. Meanwhile, (3-bromo-4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (6.38 g, 23.4 mmol) was dissolved in THF (75 mL) and sparged with N2 (g). The first solution was added to the second and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (1.3 g, 1.1 mmol) was also added. The reaction was heated to reflux overnight then treated to standard aqueous workup. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (0-10% EtOAc in hexanes) to give the title compound.
