A round-bottom flask was heated, and then allow to cool to room temperature under argon. To the flask were added Pd2(dba)3 (1.39 g, 1.52 mmol, 1.0 mol %) or Pd(dba)2 (1.38 g, 2.4 mmol, 1.4 mol %), 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl (1.09 g, 3.65 mmol, 2.4 mol %), 2-bromotoluene (12, 40 mL, 332.1 mmol) or 2-chlorotoluene (39 mL, 332.1 mmol), lithium amide (3.47 g, 151.1 mmol, 45 mol %), sodium t-butoxide 29.5 g, 297.7 mmol, 90 mol %), then toluene (150 mL). The reaction mixture was heated at 80° C. under argon overnight, then allowed to cool to room temperature. The resulting liquid was diluted with diethyl ether, and then filtered through a pad of celite. The resulting cocnentrte was filtered in vacuo and used in the next reaction without purification. The crude material was purified by column chromatography with hexane to give the product as white crystals with a yellow tint (23.4 g, 118.6 mmol, 72% yield).
