5-Bromo-6-cyclopropylmethoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-nicotinic acid ethyl ester (0.3 g, 0.81 mmol) was dissolved in dioxane (1.6 mL). To this solution was added with stirring [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) CH2Cl2 (33 mg, 0.04 mmol), 4-chlorophenylboronic acid (197 mg, 1.2 mmol) and sodium carbonate solution (2M, 1.2 mL). This mixture was heated to 80° C. for 5 h and cooled to room temperature. Water (150 mL) was added, the phases were separated and the water mixture was extracted with ethylacetate. Organic phases were pooled, dried with MgSO4 and the volatiles removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica (dichloromethane/methanol, 4:1) to give the title compound (0.37 g) as light yellow oil; MS (ISP) 400.1 (M+H)+.
