2-(2-bromo-5-chlorophenyl)acetonitrile

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a microwave vial was added 4-chloro-2-formylphenylboronic acid (480 mg, 2.6 mmol), 2-(2-bromo-5-chlorophenyl)acetonitrile (500 mg, 2 mmol), tetrakis(triphenyl phosphine)palladium (0) (100 mg, 0.085 mmol) and cesium carbonate (2.12 g, 6.5 mmol) sequentially. The mixture was suspended in toluene (10 mL) and methanol (5 mL). Then the reaction vial was sealed and place in a microwave reactor and irradiated at 150° C. for 10 minutes. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl acetate, and filtered through a short celite pad. The solution was concentrated. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography to yield 2,7-dichlorophenanthrene-9-carbonitrile (110 mg, 19%) Then the reaction vial was sealed place in a microwave reactor and irradiated at 150° C. for 10 minutes filtered through a short celite pad The solution was concentrated The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography