A mixture of methyl 3-amino-6-bromo-pyrazine-2-carboxylate (1.5 g, 6.465 mmol), (4-methylsulfonylphenyl)boronic acid (1.552 g, 7.758 mmol), bis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(II)dichloride (226.9 mg, 0.3233 mmol), and Na2CO3 (9.700 mL of 2 M, 19.40 mmol) in DME (18.75 mL) were heated in the microwave at 110° C. for 1 hour. The resultant mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with water. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified on silica gel by flash column chromatography (50% EtOAc/hexanes) to afford the title compound (600 mg, 53% Yield).
