Under nitrogen, to 2-fluoro-6-nitrobenzamide (1.15 g, 6.23 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in dioxane (6.2 mL) at 23° C. was added palladium acetate (140 mg, 0.623 mmol, 0.100 equiv), Xantphos (541 mg, 0.935 mmol, 0.150 equiv), cesium carbonate (1.21 g, 8.72 mmol, 1.40 equiv), and 1-bromo-3-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy)benzene (1.90 g, 6.23 mmol, 1.00 equiv). After stirring for 4 hr at 100° C., the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified by column chromatography eluting with EtOAc/hexanes to afford 2.1 g of the title compound (83% yield).
