Patent ID: 7358398

Claim:
A method of synthesising a compound of formula I: comprising the step of reacting a moiety of formula II: R N1 —L (II) with a moiety of formula III: in compressed carbon dioxide in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and a base, wherein: L is a labile leaving group; R N1 is optionally substituted C 5-20 aryl; R N2 is selected from optionally substituted C 5-20 aryl, optionally substituted C 3-20 heterocyclyl, optionally substituted C 3-7 alkyl, and optionally substituted sulfonyl; R N3 is selected from H and optionally substituted C 1-7 alkyl, C 3-20 heterocyclyl and C 5-20 aryl; or R N2 and R N3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form optionally substituted nitrogen-containing C 3-20 heterocylyl or C 5-20 heteroaryl; and R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from optionally substituted C 1-7 alkyl, C 5-20 aryl, C 3-20 heterocyclyl, hydroxy, halo, amino and C 1-7 alkoxy, or two of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , together with the silicon atom to which they are attached, may form a silicon containing C 5-7 heterocyclyl group.