To a solution of (3-fluorophenyl)boronic acid (790 mg, 3.57 mmol, 1.0 eq), 3-bromobenzoic acid (790 mg, 3.93 mmol, 1.1 eq) and Na2CO3 (142 mg, 1.03 mmol, 2.5 eq) in a mixture of EtOH (2.5 mL), DMF (10 mL) and H2O (2.5 mL) was added Pd(PPh3)4 (170 mg, 0.18 mmol, 0.05 eq). The mixture was stirred at 100° C. overnight. Water was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc and the organic extract was discarded. The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 4-5 with 1M HCl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were filtered through silica gel and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound as a white solid (440 mg, 56%).
