Part A. To a solution of 2-(5-bromo-pyrazin-2-yl)-4-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid benzylamide (35 mg, 0.09 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in dimethyl ether (1 mL) was added, Na2CO3 (19 mg, 0.18 mmol, 2.0 equiv), trans-2-(4-fluorophenyl)vinyl boronic acid (37 mg, 0.22 mmol, 2.5 equiv), PdCl2(dppf) (3.0 mg, 5 mol %) and water (0.1 mL) in a sealed tube. The reaction was heated in microwave oven at 100° C. for 1 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography [SiO2, methanol/dichloromethane, 0:100 to 15:85, v/v] to afford 2-{5-[(E)-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-vinyl]-pyrazin-2-yl}-4-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid benzylamide (25 mg, 64%). MS (M+H)+=431.1, Rt=1.66 min.
