Carboxy Group as a Remote and Selective Chelating Group for C−H Activation of Arenes

Abstract The first example of carboxy group assisted, remote‐selective C(sp 2 )−H activation with a Pd II catalyst has been developed and proceeds through a possible κ 2 coordination of the carboxy group, thus suppressing the ortho ‐C−H activation through κ 1 coordination. Besides meta ‐C−H olefination, direct meta ‐arylation of hydrocinnamic acid derivatives with low‐cost aryl iodides has been achieved for the first time. These findings may motivate the exploration of novel reactivities of the carboxy assisted C−H activation reactions with intriguing selectivities.