Direct electrochemical functionalizations of unactivated C–H bonds for the late stage modification of complex structures

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At the present time, the sustainability of chemical processes is gaining more and more importance in the society. In this context, well established synthetic methods are being reconsidered and substituted by more efficient and environmental friendly procedures. One of the major challenges facing synthetic chemistry is the direct functionalization of traditionally unreactive C–H bonds. While remarkable progresses have been made regarding to the direct modification of sp2 hybridized C–H bonds, the functionalization of C(sp3)–H bonds is still remaining a great challenge. The overall goal of this research proposal is the direct and selective conversion of unactivated sp3 hybridized C–H bonds into pharmaceutically and synthetically important functional groups. In this context, the main focus lies in the functionalization of biological relevant structures to make this method attractive for the late-stage modification of complex molecules and to produce interesting new derivatives of known pharmaceuticals. To perform this research, electrochemistry was identified as suitable platform, as electrochemical reactions are often characterized by mild conditions, a high functional group tolerance and a straightforward scalability. Furthermore, electrochemical processes are particularly sustainable, as reactive intermediates are generated by the addition of electricity, thus only small amounts of waste are generated during these reactions. Therefore, the presented research will not only be relevant for synthetic organic chemistry, but also for the pharmaceutical sector.