Visible-light induced direct C(sp3)–H functionalization: recent advances and future prospects

Abstract

The direct activation of inert saturated C–H bonds for selective functionalization has long been a significant challenge in organic synthesis. The past few decades have witnessed the emergence of visible-light-induced synthesis, which also offers a new platform for achieving direct C(sp³)–H functionalization under mild conditions. Due to the tremendous research effort devoted to this, various novel visible-light-driven protocols have been established, enabling the efficient and sustainable preparation of value-added molecules from readily available alkane feedstocks. Inspired by the recent breakthroughs, herein we summarize the latest methodologies reported from the second half of 2021 to the first half of 2024, with a particular emphasis on the formation of C–P, C–B, C–S bonds, etc., along with some efforts in asymmetric C–H functionalization, to reveal the current trends and the existing challenges in this rapid-developing field.