To a solution of 2-(4-(ethylsulfonyl)-2-methoxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane (Preparation 21, 542 mg, 1.66 mmol) in dioxane (10 mL) and water (2 mL) was added 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzonitrile (300 mg, 1.38 mmol), and sodium carbonate (441 mg, 4.16 mmol). The reaction was degassed and then tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (160 mg, 0.14 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture further degassed. The reaction was on a preheated hot plate (110° C.) for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through celite and the solvent removed in vacuo. The crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with EtOAc:cyclohexane 1:1 to give the title compound as a dark solid in 62% yield, 0.345 g.
