Radical Metal-Free Borylation of Aryl Iodides

A simple metal-free borylation of aryl iodides mediated by a fluoride sp 2 –sp 3 diboron adduct is described. The reaction conditions are compatible with various functional groups. Electronic effects of substituents do not affect the borylation while steric hindrance does. The reaction proceeds via a radical mechanism in which pyridine serves to stabilize the boryl radicals, generated in situ.