Unactivated Alkyl Halides in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C-H Bond Alkylation

Alkylation represents an important organic transformation in molecular science to develop privileged alkylated arenes and heteroarenes. Especially, the direct C-H bond alkylation using unactivated alkyl halides is a straightforward and attractive approach from both the step-economy and chemoselectivity perspectives. Substantial progress has been made in the direct alkylation using primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides along with the methylation and fluoroalkylation. This Review broadly summarizes the transition-metal-catalyzed alkylations of C-H bonds on various arenes and heteroarenes with unactivated alkyl halides until October 2020. On the basis of the substrates utilized for alkylation, the Review is divided into two major sections: alkylation of arenes and alkylation of heteroarenes.

Automated summary

This review summarizes the transition-metal-catalyzed alkylations of C-H bonds on various arenes and heteroarenes using unactivated alkyl halides until October 2020. The review is divided into two major sections based on the substrates utilized for alkylation: alkylation of arenes and alkylation of heteroarenes. Substantial progress has been made in direct alkylation using primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides as well as methylation and fluoroalkylation.