Palladium-Catalyzed Benzylic C–H Borylation of Alkylbenzenes with Bis(pinacolato)diboron or Pinacolborane

Borylation at the benzylic C–H bond of alkylbenzenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron [(Me4C2O2)B–B(O2C2Me4)] or pinacolborane [(Me4C2O2)B–H] was carried out at 100 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of 10% Pd/C. The reaction selectively afforded pinacol benzylboronates in good yields directly from various alkylbenzenes.