A mixture of methyl 3-methyl-5-nitro-2-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxybenzoate (Reference Compound No. 1-4-(3), 13.26 g, 38.6 mmol), 2-benzyloxy-4-fluorophenylboronic acid (14.3 g, 58.1 mmol), potassium phosphate (21.3 g, 100 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (3.23 g, 2.80 mmol) was suspended in anhydrous 1,4-dioxane (200 mL), and then the mixture was refluxed for 3 days. After cooling down, ethyl acetate (500 mL) was added thereto, and then the whole was washed with water (500 mL) and saturated brine (50 mL) successively, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and then the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give the titled reference compound (10.7 g) as a pale brown solid. (Yield 70%)
