To a solution of methyl 2-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzoate (2.00 g) in a mixed solvent of DME (30.0 mL)-water (10.0 mL) were added 5-(chloromethyl)-2-methylpyridine hydrochloride (1.22 g), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (0.38 g) and sodium carbonate (2.11 g), and the mixture was stirred overnight at 80° C. under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was allowed to be cooled to room temperature, water and ethyl acetate were added thereto, and the mixture was partitioned. The organic layer was washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexane) to give the title compound (1.57 g).
