To a solution of methyl 4-cyclopropyl-5-iodo-2-methylbenzoate (compound 142.2, 2.00 g, 6.01 mmol, 1.00 equiv, 95%) in DMF (16 mL) was added Zn(CN)2 (890 mg, 7.58 mmol, 1.27 equiv) and Pd(PPh3)4 (731 mg, 0.630 mmol, 0.11 equiv). The resulting solution was stirred at 100° C. under nitrogen overnight. After cooling to ambient temperature, the reaction was then quenched by the addition of 100 mL of FeSO4 (aq., sat.) and diluted with ethyl acetate. The resulting mixture was stirred vigorously then filtered through celite and washed with 1 M FeSO4, water, and ethyl acetate. The layers were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with 2×100 mL of ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified via silica gel column chromatography with ethyl acetate/petroleum ether (1/50) as eluent to yield 1.10 g (81%) of methyl 5-cyano-4-cyclopropyl-2-methylbenzoate as a light yellow oil.
