Ex-123A: Potassium fluoride (0.42 g, 7.2 mmol), 5-iodo-2,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (Ex-123, 1.0 g, 3.42 mmol), 2-benzo[b]thiophene boronic acid (0.67 g, 3.77 mmol), degased tetrahydrofuran (10 mL), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (19 mg, 0.02 mmol), and tri-tert-butylphosphine (100 mg, 0.05 mmol) were sequentially charged into a flask equipped with a condenser and nitrogen inlet adapter. The reaction mixture was heated at 60° C. for one hour under nitrogen. HPLC analysis indicated of 100% conversion of 5-iodo-2,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (Ex-123) to the title compound prepared through another route (Ex-3A).
