Transition metal-free ipso-functionalization of arylboronic acids and derivatives

Arylboronic acids and their derivatives have been widely exploited as important synthetic precursors in organic synthesis, materials science, and pharmaceutical development. In addition to numerous applications in transition metal-mediated cross-coupling reactions, transition metal-free transformations involving arylboronic acids and derivatives have recently received a surge of attention for converting the C-B bond to C-C, C-N, C-O, and many other C-X bonds. Consequently, a wide range of useful compounds, e.g., phenols, anilines, nitroarenes, and haloarenes, has been readily synthesized. Amongst these efforts, many versatile reagents have been developed and a lot of practical approaches demonstrated. The research in this promising field is summarized in the current review and organized on the basis of the type of bonds being formed.