Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride was dropwise added, under ice-cooling, to a mixture of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzonitrile, pyridine and dichloromethane, followed by stirring at room temperature for 2 hours to obtain 4-cyano-2,6-dimethylphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. In an atmosphere of nitrogen, a mixture of 4-cyano-2,6-dimethylphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, (3-formylphenyl)boronic acid, palladium acetate, dicyclohexyl(2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2-yl)phosphine, tripotassium phosphate, toluene and water was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours to obtain 3′-formyl-2,6-dimethylbiphenyl-4-carbonitrile.
