3-{[3-(aminomethyl)-6-chloro-2-fluorophenyl]oxy}-5-bromobenzonitrile (0.400 g, 1.125 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (0.130 g, 0.112 mmol) were combined in THF (7 mL) and treated with diethylzinc (1 M in heptane) (2.250 mL, 2.250 mmol) with stirring under an inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was heated to 70° C. and stirred for 2 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and partitioned between EtOAc and saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The organic phase was isolated, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated to dryness. The residue was purified on 40 g silica gel eluted successively with EtOAc and 10% CH3OH/DCM to give 3-{[3-(aminomethyl)-6-chloro-2-fluorophenyl]oxy}-5-ethylbenzonitrile (0.213 g, 0.699 mmol, 62.1% yield) as a clear oil. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 7.44-7.54 (m, 3H), 7.12-7.20 (m, 2H), 3.76 (s, 2H), 2.64 (q, J=7.60 Hz, 2H), 1.90 (br. s., 2H), 1.15 (t, J=7.55 Hz, 3H). LC-MS (ES−) m/z 303.25, 305.16 [M−1]. LC-MS (ES+) m/z 305.01, 306.98 [M+H].
