Methyl 3-bromo-4-tert-butylbenzoate (500 mg, 1.80 mmol, prepared according to the procedure of Hambley T. W. et al. Aust. J. Chem., 1990, 43, 807-814) and commercially available isopropenylboronic acid pinacol ester (0.693 mL, 3.6 mmol) were suspended in toluene (7 mL). Potassium carbonate (765 mg, 5.5 mmol) was added followed by Pd(PPh3)4 (213 mg, 0.180 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated to 100° C. and stirred for 24 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was treated with EtOAc (5 mL) and brine (5 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed twice with brine, dried with MgSO4, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (0-10% EtOAc/hexane) to give 26.2 (378 mg, 88%) as a clear oil.
