Process Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co., Inc., PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
Abstract:
An efficient synthesis of a potent PDE IV inhibitor 1 is described. The synthesis is highlighted by two practical and efficient catalytic reactions: a highly selective catalytic palladium mediated carbonylation of the pyridine side chain and an efficient palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of a chloropyridine-N-oxide.