Under nitrogen, 2-(3-bromo-4-formyl-phenoxy)-4-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile (0.87 g, 2.6 mmol), phenylboronic acid (336 mg, 2.7 mmol), 1,1′-bis(diphenyl)phospino-ferrocene palladium (9 mg, 0.13 mmol) and sodium carbonate (331 mg, 3.1 mmol) in dimethoxyethane:water:ethanol solution (7:3:2, 10 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 6 h and then at 40° C. for 16 h. The mixture was then poured over water, extracted into ethyl acetate, and dried over MgSO4. The crude material was chromatographed on an ISCO CombiFlash Chromatography System to yield 2-(4-formyl-2-methoxy-phenoxy)-4-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile as a clear oil (117 mg, 14%).
