To a solution of tert-butyl [2-(4-bromophenyl)-5,8-dioxaspiro[3.4]oct-2-yl]carbamate (1-5) (21.3 g, 55.5 mmol) in dioxane (100 mL) and DMF (100 mL) was added zinc cyanide (6.52 g, 55.5 mmol) and bis(tri-t-butylphosphine)palladium(0) (2.84 g, 5.55 mmol) and the reaction was heated to 120° C. under N2 for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was cooled to rt, filtered, and concentrated. The crude residue was purified by column chromatography eluting with 1-60% EtOAc/Hexane. The appropriate fractions were combined and the solvent removed in vacuo to give tert-butyl [2-(4-cyanophenyl)-5,8-dioxaspiro[3.4]oct-2-yl]carbamate (1-6). MS (M+H)+: 331.
