Selective ortho‐Functionalization of Adamantylarenes Enabled by Dispersion and an Air‐Stable Palladium(I) Dimer

Contrary to the general belief that Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling at sites of severe steric hindrance are disfavored, we herein show that the oxidative addition to C−Br ortho to an adamantyl group is as favored as the corresponding adamantyl‐free system due to attractive dispersion forces. This enabled the development of a fully selective arylation and alkylation of C−Br ortho to an adamantyl group, even if challenged with competing non‐hindered C−OTf or C−Cl sites. The method makes use of an air‐stable Pd(I) dimer and enables straightforward access to diversely substituted therapeutically important adamantylarenes in 5–30 min.