A mixture of ethyl 5-bromo-3-furoate (23.7 g, 108.9 mmol), N-[5-methyl-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridine-2-yl]acetamide (20.0 g, 72.5 mmol), Pd(dppf)Cl2 (5.92 g, 9.09 mmol) and K2CO3 (20.0 g, 72.5 mmol) in water (72.5 mL) and toluene (1240 mL) was allowed to stir at 100° C. under an atmosphere of nitrogen overnight. The mixture was filtered while hot and then concentrated. The residue was washed with EtOH and water and then dried to give ethyl 5-(2-acetamido-5-methylpyridin-4-yl)-3-furoate (20.0 g, 67%).
