Carbon isotope exchange and transfer reactions involving CO2

Abstract

Carboxylation reactions are fundamental transformations in organic chemistry, enabling the synthesis of diverse and valuable compounds, including polymers, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. In recent years, carboxylation processes proceeding via carbon isotope exchange or CO₂ transfer have received significant interest. These processes offer intriguing decarboxylation/carboxylation reactivity and enhance existing carboxylation pathways, in particular by delivering efficient and sustainable solutions for carbon isotope labelling. This review compares and contrasts the related fields of carbon isotope exchange and transfer reactions involving CO₂. We detail early developments to the most recent advancements and discuss the advantages and limitations of each approach, in particular with regard to the efficiency of each strategy.