Water-mediated C-H activation of arenes with secure carbene precursors: the reaction and its application

A water-mediated C-H activation using sulfoxonium ylides is reported, providing a general, green and step-economic approach to construct a C-C bond and varieties of useful N-heterocycle scaffolds. Notably, the water-mediated activation, in contrast to that in organic solvents, shows great potential in pharmaceutical, biochemistry and chemical industries.