To a solution of 3-bromo-5-nitro benzoic acid (1 g, 4.06 mmol) and 2-fluoro-phenyl boronic acid (569 mg, 4.06 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (20 ml) and EtOH (1 ml) was added Na2CO3 (7 ml saturated solution) and palladium tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) (94 mg, 0.08 mmol). The mixture was heated at reflux for 4 h and then stirred at RT for 16 h. The grey precipitate that formed was filtered off and washed with CH2Cl2. The filtrate was evaporated, affording 3-nitro-5-(2-fluorophenyl)benzoic acid (intermediate XXXIVj, 880 mg, 83% yield) as a white solid. M+=262.
