meta-C-H olefination, arylation, and acetoxylation of indolines have been developed using nitrile-containing templates. The combination of a monoprotected amino acid ligand and the nitrile template attached at the indolinyl nitrogen via a sulfonamide linkage is crucial for the meta-selective C-H fiunctionalization of electron-rich indolines that are otherwise highly reactive toward electrophilic palladation at the para-positions. A wide range of synthetically important and advanced indoline analogues are selectively functionalized at the meta-positions.