The reactivity of the 4-pyridylboronate 5a for PdCl2(dppf)-catalysed c
ross-coupling reaction with an anthraquinone triflate is presented, an
d compared with its 2-thienyl- and phenylboronic analogues. Best resul
ts have been obtained on a small scale with anhydrous K3PO4 using an O
-2-scavenger or under rigorously anaerobic conditions. (C) 1997 Publis
hed by Elsevier Science Ltd.