In a 4 mL vial, N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-3-methylfuran-2-carboxamide (0.607 g, 2.70 mmol) and methyl 6-amino-5-iodonicotinate (0.5 g, 1.80 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (6 mL). The solution was degassed by bubbling N2(g) through it for ˜30 min. To the degassed solution was added DIPEA (1.25 mL, 7.19 mmol), followed by Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 (0.126 g, 0.18 mmol) and CuI (0.068 g, 0.360 mmol). The reaction mixture was allowed to stir at 50° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture then was taken up in EtOAc (10 mL) and was extracted with brine (3×10 mL). The organic layers were combined and concentrated in vacuo. The crude mixture was purified via column chromatography (gradient eluant mixture of EtOAc in Hexanes: 25% to 100% EtOAc) to give the title compound as a white solid (0.554 g, 82%).
