The reaction is carried out using inert conditions (argon or nitrogen atmosphere, dry solvents). A suspension of 0.3 g (1.8 mmol) of (4-tert-butylphenyl)boronic acid, 0.4 g (1.5 mmol) of N′-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide, 1.5 g (4.5 mmol) caesium carbonate and 0.03 g (0.03 mmol) tetrakis(triphenylphosphin)palladium in 3.5 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethan was stirred for 16 hrs at 80° C. At room temperature 5 ml of water and 15 ml of toluene were added. The organic layer was separated, the watery layer was again extracted using 15 ml of toluene. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. Column chromatographic (cyclohexane/aceton:4/1) yielded 0.23 g (0.7 mmol) 47% of N′-(4′-tert-butyl-2,5-dimethylbiphenyl-4-yl)-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide; log P (pH 2.3)=2.67.
