To a solution of tert-butyl 5-bromoisoindoline-2-carboxylate (2 g, 6.71 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (17.1 mL) in a round bottom flask was added Pd2(dba)3 (0.154 g, 0.168 mmol), xantphos (0.194 g, 0.335 mmol), DIPEA (2.343 mL, 13.41 mmol) and benzyl mercaptan (0.873 mL, 7.38 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred and heated at 90° C. under nitrogen for overnight. The reaction mixture was filtered through celite, rinsed with ethyl acetate and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified on silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate in cyclohexane (0-20%) to afford the title compound (2.11 g). LCMS (A): m/z [(M-tBu)+H]+ 286, C20H23NO2S requires 341 (acidic).
