1: 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine / CH2Cl2 / 1.) room temp., overnight, 2.) reflux, 30 min 2: 94 percent / tributylamine, 98percent formic acid / Pd(OAc)2(Ph3P)2 / dimethylformamide / 0.5 h / 70 °C 3: K2CO3 / CH2Cl2; methanol / 0.08 h / 25 °C 4: bis<α,α-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzenemethanolato>diphenylsulfur / CH2Cl2 / 0.25 h / 0 °C 5: 96 percent / NaOMe / toluene; methanol / 12 h / 25 °C View Scheme