Transition-metal-catalyzed, coordination-assisted C(sp 3 )−H functionalization has revolutionized synthetic planning over the past few decades as the use of these directing groups has allowed for increased access to many strategic positions in organic molecules. Nonetheless, several challenges remain preeminent, such as the requirement for high temperatures, the difficulty in removing or converting directing groups, and, although many metals provide some reactivity, the difficulty in employing metals outside of palladium. This review aims to give a comprehensive overview of coordination-assisted, transitionmetal-catalyzed, direct functionalization of nonactivated C(sp 3 )−H bonds by covering the literature since 2004 in order to demonstrate the current state-of-the-art methods as well as the current limitations. For clarity, this review has been divided into nine sections by the transition metal catalyst with subdivisions by the type of bond formation. Synthetic applications and reaction mechanism are discussed where appropriate.

An asymmetric 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes with aryl iodides and aryl/alkenylboronic esters under nickel/bioxazoline catalysis is disclosed. A wide array of aryl and alkenyl nucleophiles are tolerated, furnishing the products in good yield and with high enantioselectivity. In addition to terminal alkenes, 1,2-disubstituted internal alkenes participate in the reaction, establishing two contiguous stereocenters with high diastereoselectivity and moderate enantioselectivity. A combination of experimental and computational techniques shed light on the mechanism of the catalytic transformation, pointing to a closed-shell pathway with an enantiodetermining migratory insertion step, where stereoinduction arises from synergistic interactions between the sterically bulky achiral sulfonamide directing group and the hemilabile bidentate ligand.

The steric effects of substituents on five‐membered rings are less pronounced than those on six‐membered rings because of the difference in bond angles. Thus, the regioselectivities of reactions of five‐membered heteroarenes that occur with selectivities dictated by steric effects, such as the borylation of C−H bonds, have been poor in many cases. We report that the silylation of five‐membered‐ring heteroarenes occurs with high sterically derived regioselectivity when catalyzed by the combination of [Ir(cod)(OMe)]2 (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and a phenanthroline ligand or a new pyridyl‐imidazoline ligand that further increases the regioselectivity. The silylation reactions with these catalysts produce high yields of heteroarylsilanes from functionalization at the most sterically accessible C−H bonds of these rings under conditions that the borylation of C−H bonds with previously reported catalysts formed mixtures of products or products that are unstable. The heteroarylsilane products undergo cross‐coupling reactions and substitution reactions with ipso selectivity to generate heteroarenes that bear halogen, aryl, and perfluoroalkyl substituents.

Herein we disclose a strategy to promote the hydrocarboxylation of unactivated alkenes using photochemical activation of formate salts. We illustrate that an alternative initiation mechanism circumvents the limitations of prior approaches and enables hydrocarboxylation of this challenging substrate class. Specifically, we found that accessing the requisite thiyl radical initiator without an exogenous chromophore eliminates major byproducts that have plagued attempts to exploit similar reactivity for unactivated alkene substrates. This redox-neutral method is technically simple to execute and effective across a broad range of alkene substrates. Feedstock alkenes, such as ethylene, are hydrocarboxylated at ambient temperature and pressure. A series of radical cyclization experiments indicate how the reactivity described in this report can be diverted by more complex radical processes.

A flurry of recent research has centered on harnessing the power of nickel catalysis in organic synthesis. These efforts have been bolstered by contemporaneous development of well‐defined nickel (pre)catalysts with diverse structure and reactivity. In this report, we present ten different bench‐stable, 18‐electron, formally zero‐valent nickel–olefin complexes that are competent pre‐catalysts in various reactions. Our investigation includes preparations of novel, bench‐stable Ni(COD)(L) complexes (COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene), in which L=quinone, cyclopentadienone, thiophene‐S‐oxide, and fulvene. Characterization by NMR, IR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and natural bond orbital analysis sheds light on the structure, bonding, and properties of these complexes. Applications in an assortment of nickel‐catalyzed reactions underscore the complementary nature of the different pre‐catalysts within this toolkit.

A flurry of recent research has centered on harnessing the power of nickel catalysis in organic synthesis. These efforts have been bolstered by contemporaneous synthesis, characterization, and optimization of well-defined nickel (pre)catalysts with diverse structure and reactivity. In this report, we present the development of ten different bench-stable, 18-electron, formally zero-valent nickel–olefin complexes that are shown to be competent pre-catalysts in various reactions. Our investigation includes preparations of novel, bench stable Ni(COD)(L) complexes, in which L = quinone, cyclopentadienone, thiophene-S-oxide, and fulvene. Characterization by a battery of techniques, including NMR, IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and natural bond orbital analysis sheds light on the structure, bonding, and properties of these complexes. Kinetic profiling across a series of representative reactions reveals reactivity differences that stem from the nature of the ancillary ligand, underscoring the complementary relationships between each pre-catalyst within this toolkit.

Because internal alkenes are more challenging synthetic targets than terminal alkenes, metal-catalyzed olefin trans-position (i.e., positional isomerization) approaches have emerged to afford valuable E- or Z- internal alkenes from their complementary terminal alkene feedstocks. However, the applicability of these methods has been hampered by lack of generality, commercial availability, and scalability. In this Communication, we report a nickel-catalyzed plat-form for the stereodivergent E- or Z-selective synthesis of internal alkenes at room temperature. Under the developed protocols, conjugated and non-conjugated products that contain sensitive functional groups can be obtained in high yield and isomeric purity using commercially available catalysts and reagents. Notable mechanistic discoveries include the substoichiometric addition of an aryl iodide to enhance reactivity and selectivity for the synthesis of Z-isomers and the unusual finding of a phosphonium salt to enhance E-selectivity that we hope will inspire new perspectives on how these reagents interact with nickel centers.

<div>We report that the silylation of five-membered ring heteroarenes occurs with high sterically derived regioselectivity when catalyzed by the combination of</div><div>[Ir(cod)(OMe)]2 and a phenanthroline ligand or a new pyridylimidazoline ligand that further increases the regioselectivity. The silylation reactions with these catalysts produce high yields of heteroarylsilanes from functionalization at the most sterically accessible C–H bonds of these rings under conditions that the borylation of C–H bonds with previously reported catalysts formed mixtures of products or products that are unstable.</div>