Pd-catalyzed remotemeta-C–H activation in a wide range of distal arene-tethered alcohols was achieved in high regioselectivity by using a nitrile template.Computational studies on the macrocyclic transition state of regioselectivity-determining C–H activation steps revealed that both the C–N–Ag angles and gauche comformations of phenyl ether play an extremely important role formeta-selectivity.

 
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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/anie.201705495/abstract