To a solution of 5-chloro-4′-(ethylsulfonyl)-2′-methoxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-carbonitrile (Preparation 66, 330 mg, 0.985 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL) was added bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-palladium(II)dichloride (30 mg, 0.12 mmol), potassium acetate (290 mg, 2.95 mmol) and bis(pinacolato)diboron (3.75 mg, 1.48 mmol). The reaction was degassed and then placed on a preheated hot plate (100° C.) for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered through celite and the solvent removed in vacuo. The crude material was purified by reverse phase column chromatography eluting with MeCN/H2O to hydrolyse the boronic ester to afford the title compound in 25% yield, 85 mg.
