To a solution of 5-iodo-4,6-dimethylpyridin-2-amine (10 g, 40.3 mmol, 1.0 eq.) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF, 300 mL) was sequentially added zinc cyanide (Zn(CN)2, 14 g, 120.9 mmol, 3.0 eq.) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (Pd(PPh3)4, 4.65 g, 4.03 mmol, 0.1 equiv). The reaction mixture was stirred at 90 °C under nitrogen (N2) protection overnight. After completion of the reaction, extraction was carried out by adding ethyl acetate (EA) and water. The organic layer was separated and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: dichloromethane/methanol=100/1, v/v) to afford 6-amino-2,4-dimethyl-3-cyanopyridine (5 g, 84% yield) as a yellow solid.
