To a solution of methyl 4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthoate (see Example 2, 0.500 g, 1.69 mmol) in 5 mL of THF under an atmosphere of nitrogen was added (2-chloro-5-pyridyl)methylzinc chloride (0.5 M in THF, 10.2 mL, 5.08 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (0.050 g, 0.043 mmol). The reaction was heated at 90° C. for 2 hours, then cooled to room temperature and diluted with water and ethyl acetate. The mixture was filtered through celite and the organic solution was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified via silica gel chromatography, eluting with 0-20% ethyl acetate in hexanes to provide methyl 4-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-1-methoxy-2-naphthoate that gave a mass ion (ES+) of 342.0 for [M+H]+.
