Heat a mixture of 3-[2-(2-bromo-5-fluoro-phenoxymethyl)-phenyl]-acrylic acid ethyl ester (0.25 mol, 94 g), sodium acetate (0.37 mol, 30 g, 1.5 equiv.), tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (0.25 mol, 81 g), and palladium (II) acetate (7 mmol, 1.7 g, 3 mol %) in N-methylpyrrolidinone (850 mL) at 100-110° C. for 6 h. Cool to room temperature, dilute with water (1 L), filter through diatomaceous earth, and wash with ethyl acetate (2 L). Transfer the filtrate to a separatory funnel, add water (500 mL) and separate the layers. Wash the organic layer with water (2×1.5 L), dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filter through a silica pad, wash with ethyl acetate (1.5 L) and concentrate to dryness. To the residual solid add hexanes (1 L), refrigerate for 2 h, filter, rinse with hexanes (500 mL), and dry at 50° C./20 mm Hg to obtain the title compound (64.3 g, 87%). LC-MS m/z 299.0 [M+H]+.
