A mixture of 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (500 mg, 2.07 mmol), 2-methylphenylboronic acid (394 mg, 2.90 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4 (243 mg, 0.21 mmol), Cs2CO3 (2.02 g, 6.21 mmol) in dioxane (12 mL) and water (4 mL) was degassed with a stream of nitrogen then heated at 130° C. in a sealed tube using microwave irradiation for 45 min. The reaction mixture was extracted with EtOAc, and the organic fraction washed with water, followed by brine, dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (Si—PCC, gradient 0-70% DCM in cyclohexane) affording the title compound (quantitative yield). LCMS (Method C): RT 4.16 min
