To a solution of (Z)-N-(1-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(3-thienyl)prop-1-en-3-yl)sarcosine, tbutyl ester E(i) (21.14 g, 50.05 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (210 mL) was added 4-isopropylbenzeneboronic acid (16.41 g, 100.1 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4 (2.89 g, 2.50 mmol), and 2M Na2CO3 (210 mL). The vigorously stirred mixture was heated to reflux for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled, and partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, and concentrated. Column chromatography (2-5% acetone/hexanes) followed by a second chromatography (2-20% EtOAc/hexanes) provided (Z)-N-(1-(4-(4-Isopropylphenyl)phenyl)-1-(3-thienyl)prop-1-en-3-yl)sarcosine, tbutyl ester F(i) (18.65 g, 81%) as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) 1.29 (d, 6H), 1.44 (s, 9H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.95 (hept, 1H), 3.16 (s, 2H), 3.30 (d, 2H), 6.26 (t, 1H), 6.93 (d, 1H), 7.18 (d, 1H), 7.26-7.35 (m, 5H), 7.50-7.54 (m, 4H).
