Ion Pair-Directed Regiocontrol in Transition-Metal Catalysis: A Meta-Selective C–H Borylation of Aromatic Quaternary Ammonium Salts

The use of noncovalent interactions to direct transition-metal catalysis is a potentially powerful yet relatively underexplored strategy, with most investigations thus far focusing on using hydrogen bonds as the controlling element. We have developed an ion pair-directed approach to controlling regioselectivity in the iridium-catalyzed borylation of two classes of aromatic quaternary ammonium salts, leading to versatile meta-borylated products. By examining a range of substituted substrates, this provides complex, functionalized aromatic scaffolds amenable to rapid diversification and more broadly demonstrates the viability of ion-pairing for control of regiochemistry in transition-metal catalysis.