1,3-Dibromo-5-cyclopropylmethoxy-benzene (5.27 g; 17.23 mmol), (4-Mercapto-2-methyl-phenoxy)-acetic acid ethyl ester (3 g; 13.26 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (0) (0.36 g; 0.40 mmol), and 1,1′-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (0.44 g; 0.80 mmol) was added to a dry reaction flask under an atmosphere of nitrogen. Triethylamine (7.45 mL) and NMP (8 mL) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred in a microwave oven for 1 h at 140° C. A 5% aqueous citric acid solution (150 mL) was added to the reaction mixture, which was extracted with ethyl acetate (4×100 mL). The pooled organic phases were dried and evaporated in vacuo. The crude reaction product was purified by flash chromatography (heptane:ethyl acetate (20:1→7:3). Yield 2.8 g; 47%). HPLC-MS: m/z: 451.0 (M+); Rt: 2.85 min
