Research and industrial interest in radical C-H activation/radical cross-coupling chemistry has continuously grown over the past few decades. These reactions offer fascinating and unconventional approaches toward connecting molecular fragments with high atom- and step-economy that are often complementary to traditional methods. Success in this area of research was made possible through the development of photocatalysis and first-row transition metal catalysis along with the use of peroxides as radical initiators. This Review provides a brief and concise overview of the current status and latest methodologies using radicals or radical cations as key intermediates produced via radical C-H activation. This Review includes radical addition, radical cascade cyclization, radical/radical cross-coupling, coupling of radicals with M-R groups, and coupling of radical cations with nucleophiles (Nu).

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A striking breakthrough to the frame of traditional cross-couplings/C-H functionalizations using an organocatalyst remains unprecedented. We uncovered a conceptually different approach toward the biaryl syntheses by using DMEDA as the catalyst to promote the direct C-H arylation of unactivated benzene in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide. The arylation of unactivated benzene with aryl iodides, or aryl bromides and even chlorides under the assistance of an iodo-group, could simply take place at 80 °C. The new methodology presumably involves an aryl radical anion as an intermediate. This finding offers an option toward establishing a new horizon for direct C-H/cross-coupling reactions.