Activation of Remote meta‐C−H Bonds in Arenes with Tethered Alcohols: A Salicylonitrile Template

Palladium‐catalyzed activation of remote meta ‐C−H bonds in arenes containing tethered alcohols was achieved with high regioselectivity by using a nitrile template. Computational studies on the macrocyclic transition state of the 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 in the meta selectivity.