Recent advances in the synthesis of bridgehead (or ring-junction) nitrogen heterocycles via transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond activation and functionalization

Abstract

Bridgehead nitrogen (or ring-junction nitrogen) heterocycles are one of the most privileged scaffolds in synthetic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. For decades, transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation has provided straightforward access to bridgehead nitrogen heterocycles in an atom-economical manner. Palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, nickel, silver, and copper catalysts were used for the successful synthesis of these skeletons. Herein, we summarize recent advances that are made in the synthesis of bridgehead nitrogen heterocycles via diverse transition metal-catalyzed C–H activations and C–H functionalizations. This review covers the period from May 2004 to April 2020.