Achieving site-selectivity in arene functionalization that is complementary to the site-selectivity from electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions has been a long-standing quest in organic synthesis. Palladium/norbornene cooperative catalysis potentially offers a unique approach to this problem, but its use has been hampered by the ortho constraint, which is the requirement of an ortho substituent for mono ortho functionalization of haloarenes. Here, we show that such a challenge could be addressed using a new class of bridgehead-modified norbornenes, thereby enabling a broadly useful strategy for arene functionalization with complementary site-selectivity. A range of ortho-unsubstituted aryl iodides, previously problematic substrates, can now be employed to provide mono ortho-functionalized products effectively. This method is applicable for late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules at positions that are difficult to reach by conventional approaches.

Palladium/norbornene (Pd/NBE) cooperative catalysis has received enormous attention and found numerous synthetic applications in the past two decades. Considering the critical roles that NBE plays in the catalytic cycle, the use of structurally modified NBEs (smNBEs), starting from 2015, has become an important approach to address limitations and modulate reaction selectivity in Pd/NBE catalysis. This Perspective highlights the development of three types of smNBEs: C1-substituted, C2-substituted, and C5-substituted or C5,C6-disubstituted NBEs, as well as their synthetic applications toward site-selective C–H functionalization. A focus is on the structure–activity relationship of smNBEs in these reactions, and rationales for using smNBEs in many cases have also been provided.

Herein, we describe our initial development of an asymmetric Pd-catalyzed annulation between aryl iodides and racemic epoxides for synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans using a chiral norbornene cocatalyst. A series of enantiopure ester-, amide- and imide-substituted norbornenes have been prepared with a reliable synthetic route. Promising enantioselectivity (42–45% ee) has been observed using the isopropyl ester-substituted norbornene (N1*) and the amide-substituted norbornene (N7*).

Herein we report a direct vicinal difunctionalization of thiophenes via the palladium/norbornene (Pd/NBE) cooperative catalysis. A series of mono-and disubstituted thiophenes can be difunctionalized siteselectively and regioselectively at the C4 and C5 positions in good yields, enabled by an arsine ligand and a unique amide-based NBE. The synthetic utility has been shown in derivatizations of complex bioactive compounds and an open-flask gram-scale preparation. Preliminary results have been obtained in the difunctionalization of furans and a direct C4-selective arylation of 2-substituted thiophenes.