In a dried and purged vessel were added N-[(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)methoxy]-1-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1-phenylmethanimine (0.2 g, 0.536 mmol, 1 eq.), phenylboronic acid (0.072 g, 0.58 mmol, 1.1 eq.), Na2CO3 (0.119 g, 1.12 mmol, 2.1 eq.) and Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.030 g, 0.027 mmol, 0.05 eq.). A mixture of solvent was added toluene/ethanol/water (4/1/1) was added and the vessel purged with argon and sealed. The reaction was heated to 90° C. for 6 hrs. After cooling, 10 ml of EtOAc were added and the solids were filtered through a “Celite” plug and washed with EtOAc. The organics were separated, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel to give 1-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1-phenyl-N-[(6-phenylpyridin-2-yl)methoxy]methanimine (0.192 g, 91% yield) as a colorless gum.
