A method for preparing a compound of formula: wherein the method comprising contacting a compound of formula: with R 1 -Y in a solvent, in the presence of a palladium catalyst, wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of a base, wherein Y is B(OR +) 2 or Sn(R ++) 3; R 1 is substituted pyridyl; R 2 is H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-s alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylalkyl; R 3 is H, or a substituted or unsubstituted Ci-s alkyl; and each R + is independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C 1-3 alkyl, or each R +, together with the boron atom and the atoms to which they are attached, form a cyclic boronate; each R ++ is independently C 1-3 alkyl; the palladium catalyst is [1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium dichloromethane, bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium /tri-o-tolylphosphine, dichloro[1,1'-bis(diter-butylphosphino)ferrocene]palladium, dichlorobis(p-dimethylamino phenylditbutylphosphine)palladium, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, or palladium acetate/4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene; and substituted means substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of chloro; iodo; bromo; fluoro; alkyl; hydroxy; alkoxy; alkoxyalkyl; amino; alkylamino; carboxy; nitro; cyano; thiol; thioether; imine; imide; amidine; guanidine; enamine; aminocarbonyl; acylamino; phosphonato; phosphine; thiocarbonyl; alkylsulfonyl; sulfonamide; acyl; ester; urea; urethane; oxime; hydroxylamine; alkoxyamine; aralkoxyamine; N-oxide; hydrazine; hydrazide; hydrazone; azide; isocyanate; isothiocyanate; cyanate; thiocyanate; oxo; B 2; O(alkyl)aminocarbonyl; cycloalkyl, which may be monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic; heterocyclyl, which may be monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic; monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic aryl or heteroaryl; aryloxy; aralkyloxy; heterocyclyloxy; and heterocyclylalkoxy. with R 1 -Y in a solvent, in the presence of a palladium catalyst, wherein said contacting occurs in the presence of a base, wherein Y is B(OR +) 2 or Sn(R ++) 3; R 1 is substituted pyridyl; R 2 is H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-s alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylalkyl; R 3 is H, or a substituted or unsubstituted Ci-s alkyl; and each R + is independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C 1-3 alkyl, or each R +, together with the boron atom and the atoms to which they are attached, form a cyclic boronate; each R ++ is independently C 1-3 alkyl; the palladium catalyst is [1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium dichloromethane, bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium /tri-o-tolylphosphine, dichloro[1,1'-bis(diter-butylphosphino)ferrocene]palladium, dichlorobis(p-dimethylamino phenylditbutylphosphine)palladium, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, or palladium acetate/4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene; and substituted means substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of chloro; iodo; bromo; fluoro; alkyl; hydroxy; alkoxy; alkoxyalkyl; amino; alkylamino; carboxy; nitro; cyano; thiol; thioether; imine; imide; amidine; guanidine; enamine; aminocarbonyl; acylamino; phosphonato; phosphine; thiocarbonyl; alkylsulfonyl; sulfonamide; acyl; ester; urea; urethane; oxime; hydroxylamine; alkoxyamine; aralkoxyamine; N-oxide; hydrazine; hydrazide; hydrazone; azide; isocyanate; isothiocyanate; cyanate; thiocyanate; oxo; B 2; O(alkyl)aminocarbonyl; cycloalkyl, which may be monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic; heterocyclyl, which may be monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic; monocyclic or fused or non-fused polycyclic aryl or heteroaryl; aryloxy; aralkyloxy; heterocyclyloxy; and heterocyclylalkoxy.