To a stirred solution of 1,3-xylylenediamine (132 uL, 1.00 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was sequentially added IPr2NEt (1.75 mL, 10.0 mmol), HOBt (405 mg, 3.00 mmol), picolinic acid (370 mg, 3.00 mmol) and BOP reagent (1.33 g, 3.00 mmol). After 18 h at room temperature, the reaction mixture was added to a rapidly-stirred mixture of EtOAc (50 mL), H2O (50 mL), and sat'd NaCl (50 mL). After stirring for ca 1 h, the phases were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to a brown oil. Purification by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc) afforded 359 mg of the desired product as a white solid. MS (ES+) m/z 347.2 [M+H]+.
