Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Heck Reaction: Novel Synthesis of Methyl (E)-3-(5-Amino-2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate as a Precursor to Carpatamides

Abstract A methodology has been developed for the synthesis of methyl (E)-3-(2,4-dimethoxy-5-nitrophenyl)acrylate which is the precursor to cytotoxic natural products carpatamides A–D. The title compound was synthesized in a good yield from 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid through decarboxylative iodination and Pd(II)-catalyzed Heck reaction.