To a solution of tert-butyl 4-hydroxypyridin-2-ylcarbamate (4.12 g, 19.6 mmol) and 1-fluoro-2-methyl-4-nitrobenzene (3.34 g, 21.6 mmol) in DMF (40 mL) was added K2CO3 (4.06 g, 29.04 mmol). After heating to 65° C. for 64 hours, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and poured into ice water (200 mL). The reaction mixture was extracted several times with ethyl acetate. The combined organics were concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed (20% ethyl acetate in hexanes) to provide the product (2.03 g, 30%).
