To a −70° C. stirred solution of oxazole (167 mg, 2.4 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (4 mL) is added n-butyllithium (1.6 M in hexanes, 1.7 mL, 2.7 mmol). After 30 min, zinc chloride (1 M in diethyl ether, 7.3 mL, 7.3 mmol) is added and the reaction mixture is warmed to 0° C. for 1 h. To this mixture is added a solution of methyl 3-{[butyl(methyl)amino]carbonyl)-5-iodobenzoate (864 mg, 2.3 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (3 mL) followed by palladium(0) tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) (112 mg, 0.10 mmol). The reaction mixture is heated at reflux for 1.5 h. The reaction mixture is cooled, diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with water, and saturated sodium chloride, dried (sodium sulfate), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by flash column chromatography (silica gel, 60% ethyl acetate/hexane) provides the title compound. ESI MS m/z 317.1 [M+H]+.
