Fig. 4: Mechanistic investigations for meta-C–H alkenylation of nitroarenes.

a Control experiments. b (i) 1H-NMR of the equimolar mixture of nitrobenzene and HT3 in acetone-d6. (ii) 1H-NMR of HT3. c (iii) the mixture of HFIP, nitrobenzene and HT3. (iv) the mixture of HFIP and HT3. d Comparison of yield and regioselectivity between non-directed photo-redox reaction and hydrogen bonding approach. e Kinetic Isotope effect studies of Nitrobenzene. f Attempted alkenylation of deuterated nitrobenzene without template. g Up-scaled reaction and recovery of H-bonding template.