Palladium-catalyzed benzylic C-H borylation of alkylbenzenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron or pinacolborane

Borylation at the benzylic C-H bond of alkylbenzenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron [(Me4C2O2)B-B(O2C2Me4)] or pinacolborane [(Me4C2O2)B-H] was carried out at 100 degreesC in the presence of a catalytic amount of 10% Pd/C. The reaction selectively afforded pinacol benzylboronates in good yields directly from various alkylbenzenes.