Scheme 3.
Synthesis of pyridine dicarboxylate derivatives 34–36. Reagents and conditions: (i) Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), PPh3 (0.2 eq.), Cs2CO3 (1.1 eq.), DMF, 70 °C, 3–5 h, 60–75%; (ii) CuI (0.1 eq.), N-(n-butyl)imidazole (0.5 eq.), Cs2CO3 (2 eq.), toluene, MW, 140 °C, 1 h, 44%; (iii) NaOH, MeOH, H2O, 6 h-overnight, 49–75%.