To 2-bromo-4-fluoro-1-nitrobenzene (185.16 mg, 0.842 mmol) was added Pd2 dba3 (23.12 mg, 0.025 mmol) and copper powder (271 mg, 4.26 mmol). Dimethylsulfoxide (2.3 ml) and methyl 2-bromo-4-fluorobenzoate (0.122 ml, 0.842 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred vigorously at 100° C. for 2 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl acetate (20 ml), and filtered. The filtrate was washed with water and dried (anhydrous Na2SO4) and concentrated to give a yellow oil (279.8 mg). This oil was utilized without purification for the preparation of Example 38b.
