Understanding the Activation of Air-Stable Ir(COD)(Phen)Cl Precatalyst for C-H Borylation of Aromatics and Heteroaromatics.

A newly developed robust catalyst [Ir(COD)(Phen)Cl] (A) was used for the C-H borylation of three dozen aromatics and heteroaromatics with excellent yield and selectivity. Activation of the catalyst was identified by the use of catalytic amounts of water, alcohols, etc., when B2pin2 was used in noncoordinating solvents, while for THF catalytic use of HBpin was required. The results were on par with the in situ based expensive system [Ir(OMe)(COD)]2/dtbbpy or Me4Phen.