Palladium-catalysed directed remote meta-C-H functionalization of arenes using a cyclopentenyl-pyridyl template

Achieving positionally selective distal C-H functionalization remains a fundamental and longstanding challenge in the field of C-H activation. The directing template strategy has emerged as a promising solution to this problem. Herein, we disclose the development of a novel non-aromatic meta-selective directing template, which showed eminent reactivity and site-selectivity in palladium-catalyzed remote meta-C-H olefination, deuteration and acetoxylation of benzyl alcohols.