Palladium Catalyzed Selective B(3)–H Activation/Oxidative Dehydrogenative Coupling for the Synthesis of Bis(o-carborane)s

A palladium catalyzed selective B(3)–H activation/oxidative dehydrogenative coupling for the synthesis of bis(o-carborane)s connected with B(3)–B(3′) and B(3)–B(6′) bonds has been developed for the first time. A plausible mechanism involving stepwise activation of B(3)–H and B(3′/6′)–H bonds by PdII and PdIV was proposed. This work is the first example and the most efficient protocol for synthesis of bis(o-carborane)s connected with B(3)–B(3′) and B(3)–B(6′) bonds, which has important reference for design, synthesis, and application of bis(o-carborane)s in related fields.