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Amide directed C–H borylation using ≥two equiv. of BBr3 forms borenium cations containing a R2N(R′)C[double bond]O→B(Ar)Br unit which has significant Lewis acidity at the carbonyl carbon. This enables reduction of the amide unit to an amine using hydrosilanes. This approach can be applied sequentially in a one-pot electrophilic borylation–reduction process, which for phenyl-acetylamides generates ortho borylated compounds that can be directly oxidised to the 2-(2-aminoethyl)-phenol. Other substrates amenable to the C–H borylation–reduction sequence include mono and diamino-arenes and carbazoles. This represents a simple method to make borylated molecules that would be convoluted to access otherwise (e.g. N-octyl-1-BPin-carbazole). Substituent variation is tolerated at boron as well as in the amide unit, with diarylborenium cations also amenable to reduction. This enables a double C–H borylation–reduction–hydrolysis sequence to access B,N-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including an example where both the boron and nitrogen centres contain functionalisable handles (N–H and B–OH). This method is therefore a useful addition to the metal-free borylation toolbox for accessing useful intermediates (ArylBPin) and novel B,N-PAHs.

Two templates used in meta-directed C–H functionalisation under metal catalysis do not direct meta C–H borylation under electrophilic borylation conditions. Using BCl3 only Lewis adduct formation with Lewis basic sites in the template is observed. While combining BBr3 and the template containing an amide linker only led to amide directed ortho C–H borylation, with no pyridyl directed meta borylation. The amide directed borylation is selective for the ortho borylation of the aniline derived unit in the template, with no ortho borylation of the phenylacetyl ring – which would also form a six membered boracycle – observed. In the absence of other aromatics amide directed ortho borylation on to phenylacetyl rings can be achieved. The absence of meta-borylation using two templates indicates a higher barrier to pyridyl directed meta borylation relative to amide directed ortho borylation, and suggests that bespoke templates for enabling meta-directed electrophilic borylation may be required.

The ability to conduct N‐heterocyclic carbene‐catalysed acyl anion chemistry under ball‐milling conditions is reported for the first time. This process has been exemplified through applications to intermolecular‐benzoin, intramolecular‐benzoin, intermolecular‐Stetter and intramolecular‐Stetter reactions including asymmetric examples and demonstrates that this mode of mechanistically complex organocatalytic reaction can operate under solvent‐minimised conditions., Having a ball: The ability to conduct mechanistically complex N‐heterocyclic carbene‐catalysed acyl anion chemistry under ball‐milling conditions is reported for the first time. This process is exemplified through applications to intermolecular‐benzoin, intramolecular‐benzoin, intermolecular‐Stetter and intramolecular‐Stetter reactions including asymmetric examples.

Electrophilic borylation of indoles with BX3 (X = Cl or Br) using directing groups installed at N1 can proceed at the C2 or the C7 position. The six membered heterocycle directing groups utilised herein, pyridines and pyrimidine, result in indole C2 borylation being the dominant outcome (in the absence of a C2-substituent). In contrast, C7 borylation was achieved using five membered heterocycle directing groups, such as thiazole and benzoxazole. Calculations on the borylation of indole substituted with a five (thiazole) and a six (pyrimidine) membered heterocycle directing group indicated that borylation proceeds via borenium cations with arenium cation formation having the highest barrier in both cases. The C7 borylated isomer was calculated to be the thermodynamically favoured product with both five and six membered heterocycle directing groups, but for pyrimidine directed indole borylation the C2 product was calculated to be the kinetic product. This is in contrast to thiazole directed indole borylation with BCl3 where the C7 borylated isomer is the kinetic product too. Thus, heterocycle ring size is a useful way to control C2 vs. C7 selectivity in N-heterocycle directed indole C–H borylation.

Indoles are privileged heterocycles found in many biologically active pharmaceuticals and natural products. However, the selective functionalization of the benzenoid moiety in indoles in preference to the more reactive pyrrolic unit is a significant challenge. Herein we report that N-acyl directing groups enable the C7-selective C-H borylation of indoles using just BBr

Indoles are privileged heterocycles found in many biologically active pharmaceuticals and natural products. However, the selective functionalization of the benzenoid moiety in indoles in preference to the more reactive pyrrolic unit is a significant challenge. Herein we report that N‐acyl directing groups enable the C7‐selective C−H borylation of indoles using just BBr3. This transformation shows some functional‐group tolerance and notably proceeds with C6 substituted indoles. The directing group can be readily removed in situ and the products isolated as the pinacol boronate esters. Acyl‐directed electrophilic borylation can be extended to carbazoles and anilines with excellent ortho selectivity. 4‐amino‐indoles are amenable to this process, with acyl group installation and directed electrophilic C−H borylation enabling selective formation of C5‐BPin‐indoles., B‐directed: Acyl‐directed electrophilic C−H borylation provides access to novel C5 and C7 borylated indoles using just BBr3 as the borylating agent via the formation of six‐membered boracycles.

The intramolecular C–H borylation of (hetero)arenes and alkenes using electrophilic boranes is a powerful transition metal free methodology for forming C–B bonds. These C–H borylation reactions are preceded by intermolecular bond (both dative and covalent) formation, with examples proceeding via initial C–B and N–B bond formation dominating this field thus both are discussed in depth herein. Less prevalent intramolecular electrophilic C–H borylation reactions that proceed by intermolecular O–B, S–B and P–B bond formation are also summarised. Mechanistic studies are presented that reveal two mechanisms for C–H borylation, (i) electrophilic aromatic substitution (prevalent with B–X electrophiles); (ii) σ-bond metathesis mediated (prevalent with B–H and B–R electrophiles). To date, intramolecular electrophilic C–H borylation is utilised mainly for accessing boron containing conjugated organic materials, however recent developments, summarized herein alongside early studies, have highlighted the applicability of this methodology for forming synthetically versatile organo-boronate esters and boron containing bioactives. The multitude of synthetic procedures reported for intramolecular electrophilic C–H borylation contain many common features and this enables key requirements for successful C–H borylation and the factors effecting regioselectivity and substrate scope to be identified, discussed and summarized.