Meta-Selective C-H Arylation of Aromatic Alcohols with a Readily Attachable and Cleavable Molecular Scaffold

The first example of meta-selective C-H arylations of arene alcohol-based substrates is described. The strategy involves the combination of the transient norbornene strategy with the quinoline-based acetal scaffold to achieve the formation of biaryl compounds. Both a two-step meta-arylation/scaffold cleavage process and a total telescoping procedure are described, highlighting the convenient attributes of attachment, removal, and recovery of the acetal scaffold. Moreover, the meta-arylated compounds can be further derivatized via ortho-selective functionalizations. These processes establish a foundation for catalytic polyfunctionalization of alcohol-based compounds.