To a round-bottom flask containing 5-amino-2-methyl-phenylboronic acid pinacol ester (348 mg, 1.5 mmol), 2-chloro-5-methylpyridine (381 mg, 3 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4 (192 mg, 0.15 mmol) is added toluene (12 ml), EtOH (3 ml) and 2M aqueous Na2CO3 solution (3 ml). The flask is purged with argon and sealed. The mixture is stirred at 90° C. for 18 hours, cooled to room temperature and then water (20 ml) and ethyl acetate (20 ml) are added. The organic layer is separated, washed with brine, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated. The residue is purified by silica gel flash chromatography, eluted with 2% methanol in dichloromethane to afford 4-Methyl-3-(5-methylpyridin-2-yl)aniline as a brown oil. LC-MS m/z: 199.1 (M+1).
