Regioselective Functionalization of Quinolines through C-H Activation: A Comprehensive Review

Quinoline is a versatile heterocycle that is part of numerous natural products and countless drugs. During the last decades, this scaffold also became widely used as ligand in organometallic catalysis. Therefore, access to functionalized quinolines is of great importance and continuous efforts have been made to develop efficient and regioselective synthetic methods. In this regard, C-H functionalization through transition metal catalysis, which is nowadays the Graal of organic green chemistry, represents the most attractive strategy. We aim herein at providing a comprehensive review of methods that allow site-selective metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization of quinolines, or their quinoline N-oxides counterparts, with a specific focus on their scope and limitations, as well as mechanistic aspects if that accounts for the selectivity.

Automated summary

Quinoline is a versatile heterocycle found in natural products and drugs, and is widely used as a ligand in organometallic catalysis. Efforts have been focused on developing efficient and regioselective synthetic methods for functionalized quinolines, with C-H functionalization through transition metal catalysis being the most attractive strategy. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of methods for selective metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization of quinolines, focusing on their scope, limitations, and mechanistic aspects.