Methyl acrylate (2.7 ml, 30 mmol), 7-iodo-1-phenyl-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole (3.48 g, 10 mmol), triethylamine (2.79 ml, 20 mmol), palladium acetate (45 mg, 0.2 mmol), tri-o-tolylphosphine (161 mg, 0.53 mmol) and acetonitrile (50 ml) were combined and the mixture heated at reflux under an argon atmosphere for 17 h. The mixture was cooled, filtered through Dicalite and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. Crystals formed and were isolated by filtration and dried to give the title compound (3.2 g, 92%), m/z 347.0 (M+H)+.
