Methyl (3-bromophenyl)acetate (2.06 g, 9.0 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0)(115 mg), sodium carbonate (2.61 g, 25 mmol in 2 ml water) and toluene (10 ml) were degassed under nitrogen in a 25 ml flask fitted with a reflux condenser. 2-Methoxybenzene boronic acid (1.5 g, 9.87 mmol) in toluene (1 ml) was added and the mixture was heated at reflux overnight, then mixed with 1:1 saturated sodium chloride/ethyl acetate (15 ml). The organic materials were separated, dried (MgSO4), then concentrated under reduced pressure which gave 2.81 g of methyl (3-(2-methoxyphenyl)phenyl)acetate.
