N-(6-Iodo-4-o-tolylpyridin-3-yl)-N-methyl-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (60 mg, 0.11 mmol), sodium tert-butoxide (31 mg, 0.32 mmol), palladium acetate (2.4 mg, 0.011 mmol, CAS RN 3375-31-3) and BINAP (19.9 mg; 0.032 mmol, CAS RN 76189-55-4) were dissolved in toluene (4 mL) and stirred under an argon atmosphere for 10 min. Benzophenone imine (38 mg, 0.21 mmol, CAS RN 1013-88-3) was added and the reaction mixture was sealed and heated to 150° C. by microwave irradiation for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled, unsealed and 200 μL of 1M aqueous HCl was added. After stirring for 1 h, the reaction mixture was neutralized with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution and extracted three times with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. Filtration followed by removal of volatiles under reduced pressure afforded a brown solid. Column chromatography on silica gel (50% EtOAc in n-hexane) afforded the title compound as a yellow solid (17 mg, 35%). MS (ESI): m/z=453.9 [M+H]+.
