To a solution of 2-amino-4-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-iodo-benzoic acid methyl ester (0.80 g, 2.35 mmol) in dioxane (10 mL) were added 1-methyl-5-tributylstannanyl-1H-pyrazole (1.05 g, 2.81 mmol) and Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 (168 mg, 0.235 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 72 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo to afford a dark oil. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc/hexanes (0:10 to 3:7)) to give 2-amino-4-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-(2methyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester (430 mg, 1.46 mmol, 62%). ES-MS: m/z 296 [M+H]+, rt 6.05 min.
