Dehydrogenative cross-coupling of o-carborane with thiophenes via Ir-catalyzed regioselective cage B-H and C(sp2)-H activation.

Ir-Catalyzed -COOH directed site-selective B-H/C-H dehydrogenative cross-coupling of o-carborane with thiophenes has been achieved for the first time. Without any pre-functionalization, carboranyl carboxylic acids and thiophenes can serve as suitable coupling partners, resulting in the preparation of 4-thienyl-o-carboranes in a simple one-pot process for potential applications in materials.