A strategy for affecting ortho versus meta/para selectivity in Ir-catalyzed C–H borylations (CHBs) of phenols is described. From selectivity observations with ArylOBpin (pin = pinacolate), it is hypothesized that an electrostatic interaction between the partial negatively charged OBpin group and the partial positively charged bipyridine ligand of the catalyst favors ortho selectivity. Experimental and computational studies designed to test this hypothesis support it. From further computational work a second generation, in silico designed catalyst emerged, where replacing Bpin with Beg (eg = ethylene glycolate) was predicted to significantly improve ortho selectivity. Experimentally, reactions employing B2eg2 gave ortho selectivities > 99%. Adding triethylamine significantly improved conversions. This ligand– substrate electrostatic interaction provides a unique control element for selective C–H functionalization.

The comparison of experimental and predicted kinetic isotope effects in the α-cleavage of alkoxy radicals is used here to judge the applicability of statistical rate theories. It is found that the governing rate theory and the statistical versus nonstatistical nature of the cleavage depend on the cleavage barrier and how much energy is imparted to the radical. The latter can then be controlled by changing the size of substituents in the system. With a large alkyl group substituent, the vibrational energy of the alkoxy radical is increased, but this energy is not statistically distributed, leading to a lower isotope effect than predicted by statistical theories. The observed isotope effect can be approximately rationalized using a semistatistical localized RRKM model.

Intramolecular 13C kinetic isotope effects were determined for the dimerization of methacrolein. Trajectory studies accurately predict the isotope effects and support an origin in Newton’s second law of motion, with no involvement of zero-point energy or transition state recrossing. Atomic motion reaction coordinate diagrams are introduced as a way to qualitatively understand the selectivity.