Metal- and light-free decarboxylative direct C–H alkylation of heteroarenes at room temperature

Abstract

This study reports a metal- and light-free decarboxylative C–H alkylation of heteroarenes at room temperature. The reaction generates various primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals and functionalizes seven different privileged scaffolds widely present in bioactive molecules. During this process, one equivalent of hypervalent iodine(III) carboxylates (HICs) plays dual roles as an alkyl radical precursor and an oxidant.