4-Bromo-3-methylbenzonitrile (500 mg, 2.55 mmol), 4,4,4',4',5,5,5',5'-octamethyl-2,2'- bi(1,3,2-dioxaborolane) (712 mg, 2.81 mmol), potassium acetate (751 mg, 7.65 mmol), and 1,1 '- bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-palladium(ll)dichloride dichloromethane complex (208 mg, 0.26 mmol) were added into 5.0 mL of Ν, Ν-dimethylformamide. The resulting mixture was stirred at 100°C for 24 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, water was added and the resulting mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. 4-Cyano-2-Methylphenylboronic acid, pinacol ester was obtained after purification.
