To a solution of 7-{(R)-2-[(E)-3-(3-bromo-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-propenyl]-5-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl}-heptanoic acid methyl ester, (0.2 g, 0.46 mmol) in 10 mL of DME stirred at room temperature was added Pd(Ph3P)4 (0.03 g, 0.05 eq). After stirring for 5 minutes, o-tolylboronic acid (0.12 g, 2 eq) an 2M Na2CO3 (0.6 mL, 2.5eq) were added and the mixture was refluxed overnight under N2 atmosphere. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with 25% NH4Oac (10 mL), stirred for 5 minutes and then was extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic layer was dried over MgSO4 (anhydrous), concentrated under the reduced pressure and purified to yield 87 mg of 7-{(R)-2-[(E)-3-hydroxy-3-(2′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-propenyl]-5-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl}-heptanoic acid methyl ester.
