Transition metal-catalyzed borylation of alkanes and arenes via CH activation

Since 1999, direct borylation of hydrocarbons catalyzed by a transition metal complex has been extensively studied by several groups and has become an economical, efficient, elegant, and environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of a variety of organoboron compounds. Re-, Rh-, Ir- and Pd-catalyzed CH borylation of alkanes, arenes and benzylic positions of alkylarenes by bis(pinacolato)diboron or pinacolborane provide alkyl-, aryl-, heteroaryl- and benzylboron compounds, respectively. In this review, seminal early works and exciting recent developments in the area of direct borylation of hydrocarbons via CH activation are summarized.