Regioselectivity of the borylation of alkanes and arenes

The borylation of alkanes and arenes has become some of the most practical C-H bond functionalization chemistry. Most striking is the high regioselectivity of these reactions. Rhodium and ruthenium complexes catalyze with exquisite selectivity the borylation of methyl C-H bonds over methylene or methine C-H bonds. Iridium complexes catalyze, with high steric control, the borylation of one aromatic C-H bond over another. In contrast, iridium-catalyzed borylation of heteroaromatic C-H bonds is more controlled by electronic effects. Detailed information on these selectivities and mechanistic information on the origins of this regioselectivity will be described in this critical review (95 references).