Exchange 2003 (SBS) to 2016 swing migration

Dear Experts,

I'm in a tricky place here. I have an SBS 2003 that I am migrating off to a few new VMs all with windows 2012R2 and Exchange 2016.  I was hoping to do a swing from exchange 2003 to 2010 and then on to 2016 but I've hit a brick wall.

I have so far joined a new 2012 R2 server to the domain and promoted it to DC.  Forest level is raised 2003. AD is working and replicating.

I've now added another with 2012R2 and joined it as a member server.  I was planning on installing exchange 2010 so that I could move mail services to it.  During the install I got an error message about preparing the organisation for exchange 2010 and that no 2003 or 2007 exchange servers could be reinstalled after this.  I googled around only to discover that Exchange 2010 won't install in a 2012R2 domain!!


1. Is this accurate?  I can't install Exch 2010 on a server that has an 2012R2 DC? Or is it that I can't install it on a server with 2012R as the OS? Could I spin up a 2008 R2 server and use that?

2. If I cant do any of the above, what are my options?  

I don't want to do a greenfield on this if possible. Too many LOB apps that would not like a new domain.

Thanks