Highly Selective and Divergent Acyl and Aryl Cross-Couplings of Amides via Ir-Catalyzed C-H Borylation/N-C(O) Activation.

Herein, we demonstrate that amides can be readily coupled with nonactivated arenes via sequential Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation/N-C(O) activation. This methodology provides facile access to biaryl ketones and biaryls by the sterically controlled Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation and divergent acyl and decarbonylative amide N-C(O) and C-C activation. The methodology diverts the traditional acylation and arylation regioselectivity, allowing us to directly utilize readily available arenes and amides to produce valuable ketone and biaryl motifs.