Tri(o-toly)phosphine (25 mg, 0.082 mmol) and palladium(II) acetate (9 mg, 0.041 mmol) in acetonitrile (1 mL) was added to a mixture of methyl acrylate (84 mg, 0.98 mmol) and triethylamine (329 mg, 3.26 mmol). Aryl bromide (25) (278 mg, 0.82 mmol) in acetonitrile (3 mL) was then added and the reaction mixture heated in a CEM Discover microwave for 45 minutes at 90° C. The solvent was concentrated in vacuo, and the crude product was purified by Flash Master Jones Chromatography using a 25 g silica cartridge eluting with 5-17% EtOAc in heptane. Yield: 222 mg, 78%; LC-MS tr 1.62 min; HPLC Purity: 100%; MS (ES+) m/z 347 (M+H)
