Rhodaelectro-Catalyzed C-H and C-C Activation

Rhodium(III) catalysis has set the stage for a plethora of oxidative C-H functionalizations over the last decade, which have predominantly employed stoichiometric amounts of toxic and expensive metal oxidants, such as silver(I) salts. In the meantime, electrosynthesis has emerged as an increasingly viable alternative for expensive and toxic oxidants. Recently, significant momentum has been achieved with the merger of electrocatalysis with organometallic C-H activation. However, user-friendly and robust rhodaelectro-catalysis has until very recently proven elusive for oxidative C-H activations. This minireview highlights the current knowledge and recent advances of electrooxidation in rhodium-catalyzed C-H or C-C activations, with a topical focus on contributions from the Ackermann group through July 2020.

Automated summary

Rhodium(III) catalysis has been crucial in advancing oxidative C-H functionalizations in the last decade, although it has mainly relied on stoichiometric amounts of toxic and expensive metal oxidants like silver(I) salts. The emerging field of electrosynthesis is seen as a promising alternative to these toxic and expensive oxidants, with recent progress merging electrocatalysis with organometallic C-H activation. However, developing user-friendly and robust rhodaelectro-catalysis for oxidative C-H activations has been challenging until very recently.