Remote C-H bond functionalization reveals the distance-dependent isotope effect

Iodination of remote aryl C-H bonds has been achieved using palladium acetate as the catalyst and iodoacetate (IOAc) as the oxidant. Systematic kinetic isotope studies imply a mechanistic regime shift as the number of bonds separating the directing heteroatom and the target C-H bond increases. Both isotope and electronic effects observed in remote C-H bond activation are consistent with an electrophilic palladation pathway in which the initial palladation is slower than the C-H bond cleavage.