Under a nitrogen atmosphere, to a solution of methyl 5-(benzyloxy)-6chloronicotinate (2.77 g) in 1,4-dioxane (100 mL) were added 2-fluoro-5methoxyphenylboronic acid (2.00 g), potassium carbonate (2.76 g), [1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (36 mg) and water (10 mL), and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 20 hr. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and the residue was extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate) to give the title compound (3.50 g) as a colorless oil.
