To a solution of 6-chloro-N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-amine (Intermediate 1, Step 3, 1.2 g, 3.8 mmol) and 3-(diethylboryl)pyridine (0.613 g, 4.17 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (100 mL) was added K3PO4(2.52 g, 9.48 mmol). The mixture was degassed then flushed with nitrogen before Pd2(dba)3 (173 mg, 0.02 mmol) and Xantphos (0.218 mg, 0.04 mmol) were added. The mixture was heated at 105° C. overnight. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using EtOAc/PE=1/to afford 1 g of N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-[2,3′-bipyridin]-5-amine.
