To a mixture of THF/H2O (5 mL, v/v=4:1) in a microwave vial was added 3-benzyloxy-5-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (100 mg, 0.256 mmol), phenylboronic acid (34 mg, 0.281 mmol), potassium carbonate (71 mg, 0.512 mmol), and Pd(PPh3)4 (15 mg, 0.02 mmol). The reaction vessel was sealed and subjected to microwave heating for 5 min at 130° C. After cooling, it was diluted with diethyl ether and washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), and evaporated. The residue was subjected to chromatography on silica gel using an ethyl acetate-hexane gradient to afford 74 mg (90%) of 5-benzyloxybiphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester: LCMS m/z=319.4 [C21H18O3+H]+.
