4-(4-Bromo-2-methylphenyl)-2-methyl-2-(methylsulfonyl)-N-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yloxy)butanamide (250 mg, 0.558 mmol), phenyl boronic acid (102 mg, 0.837 mmol), sodium carbonate (181 mg, 1.71 mmol), Pd (II) EnCat (144 mg, 0.056 mmol, 0.39 mmol/g loading) were combined in a 2-5 mL microwave vial followed by the addition of 2 mL of dioxane, and 2 mL of water. The reaction was irradiated in a microwave at 120° C. for 40 minutes, followed by neutralization through the addition of 5 mL of aqueous 4N HCl and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×15 mL). The organics were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated onto silica gel. Silica chromatography (30% ethyl acetate 70% heptane for 10 minutes, then 30% ethyl acetate 70% heptane to 60% ethyl acetate 40% heptane for 40 minutes) afforded the title compound as a white solid (170 mg, 68%). LC-MS m/z 444.2 (M−1)
