Recent advances in the electrochemical functionalization of N-heterocycles

Abstract

Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic cores are of immense importance due to their high abundance in naturally occurring or synthetic molecules having wide applications in different fields of basic and applied sciences. The functionalities introduced in an N-heterocyclic core play an important role in regulating the physiochemical behavior of the particular N-heterocycles to alter their chemical and biological reactivity. Suitably functionalized N-heterocycles demonstrate their widespread applications in pharmaceuticals, agronomy, materials sciences, synthetic chemistry, pigments, etc. During the last decade, electrochemistry has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic approaches by minimizing reagent uses and chemical waste. Synthetic chemists have extensively utilized the tool to functionalize N-heterocycles. This is evidenced by the appearance of more than a hundred methods on the topic over recent years, signifying the importance of the synthetic area. This review is focused on the accumulation of synthetic methods based on the electrochemical functionalization of N-heterocycles developed over the recent decade. Literature reports on the C–/N–H-functionalization and functional modifications of N-heterocycles that are accessible through the available search engines are included in the review. Relevant mechanistic details in support of the reported reactions are discussed to present a clear picture of the reaction pathways. The review aims to provide a clear picture of the possible pathways of electron transfer, the electrochemical behavior of different N-heterocyclic cores, functionalization reagents, and the chemical processes that occur during the electrochemical functionalization/modification of N-heterocycles.