A mixture of 1,2-dibromobenzene (0.63 ml, 5.2 mmol), (3-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)boronic acid (506 mg, 2.6 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (640 mg, 0.6 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2.879 g, 20.9 mmol) was heated in toluene-ethanol (1:1, 10 ml at 90° C. for 3 hours. Upon cooling, the mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and water. The layers were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography using Biotage with iso-hexane containing a gradient of DCM (2-15%) to yield the title compound (538 mg, 34%).
