Iridium-Catalyzed Para-Selective C─H Borylation via Attractive Weak Interactions

Iridium-catalyzed C─H borylation has garnered significant attention from the scientific community, as organoboron compounds serve as important synthetic intermediates that can be utilized in various subsequent transformations while maintaining high selectivity. Among the three types of C─H bonds, the activation and borylation of para C─H bonds present the greatest challenge due to their largest distance from the functional group. Nevertheless, the activation of this bond can be achieved through the use of various weak noncovalent interactions. In recent years, numerous strategies have been developed that leverage these weak interactions for iridium-catalyzed para-selective C─H borylation. This concept article offers a detailed overview of these strategies, organized by the types of noncovalent interactions involved, while also discussing the progress, challenges, and future directions in this domain.