The Recent Advances in Iron‐Catalyzed C(sp³)−H Functionalization

Abstract

The use of iron as a core metal in catalysis has become a research topic of interest over the last few decades. The reasons are clear. Iron is the most abundant transition metal on Earth’s crust and it is widely distributed across the world. It has been extracted and processed since the dawn of civilization. All these features render iron a noncontaminant, biocompatible, nontoxic, and inexpensive metal and therefore it constitutes the perfect candidate to replace noble metals (rhodium, palladium, platinum, iridium, etc.). Moreover, direct C–H functionalization is one of the most efficient strategies by which to introduce new functional groups into small organic molecules. The majority of organic compounds contain C(sp3)–H bonds. Given the enormous importance of organic molecules in so many aspects of existence, the utilization and bioactivity of C(sp3)–H bonds are of the utmost importance. This review sheds light on the substrate scope, selectivity, benefits, and limitations of iron catalysts for direct C(sp3)–H bond activations. An overview of the use of iron catalysis in C(sp3)–H activation protocols is summarized herein up to 2022.