A solution of 3,5-dibromo-1-methyl-2-pyridone (267 mg, 1.0 mmol) and N-[(1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonyl]-4-[(tributyl)stannyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (568 mg, 1.0 mmol) in DMF (7 mL) was deoxygenated by alternately freezing the mixture in a liquid nitrogen bath under vacuum and thawing under argon (3 ×). bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride (80 mg, 0.11 mmol) was added and the mixture was heated to 90° C. for 3 hr as the mixture turned dark. TLC indicated that the reaction was not complete and an additional 40 mg portion of the catalyst was added and heating continued for 4 hr. The mixture was allowed to cool and was diluted with dichloromethane (40 mL) and was filtered through a pad of celite. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (30 mL). The solution was washed with water (1×10 mL), 5% potassium fluoride (2×10 mL) and brine (1×5 mL) and was dried (MgSO4). The residue obtained upon concentration was chromatographed over 45 g of silica gel eluting with 3:7 ethyl acetate:hexane to give 4-(5-bromo-1-methyl-2-oxo-3-pyridinyl)-N-[(1,1-dimethylethoxyl)carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (140 mg, 30%). FAB MS: 465 (M+H (1 Br)).
