To a stirred mixture 3-bromobenzoic acid amide (0.76 g; 3.8 mmol) and toluene (25 mL), Pd(PPh3)4 (0.180 g; 0.16 mmol), a solution of Na2CO3 (2.543 g; 24 mmol) in H2O (10 mL), and one of 3-methoxyphenylboronic acid (1.132 g; 7.45 mmol) in EtOH (10 mL) were added. The mixture was refluxed for 1 h under vigorous stirring, cooled, and the acqueous phase extracted with AcOEt. The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated. Purification of the residue by column chromatography (cyclohexane/EtOAc 1:1 then 4:6) and recrystallization gave the desired product (0.64 g) as white solid. Yield 74%. Mp: 138–40° C. (EtOH). MS (EI): m/z 227 (M+, 100%). 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 3.88 (s, 3H); 5.71 (br s, 1H); 6.11 (br s, 1H); 6.94 (m, 1H); 7.18 (m, 2H); 7.39 (t, 1H); 7.53 (t, 1H); 7.77 (m, 2H); 8.05 (t, 1H) ppm. IR (Nujol): 3327, 3148, 1676, 1640, 1613, 1584 cm−1.
