Carboxylate-Directed C-H Functionalization

As a widely existing functional group in organic molecules, the carboxyl group has numerous advantageous characteristics such as great convenience for further transformation, relatively low toxicity and cost, and weak coordination to transition metal catalysts, which render it an attractive directing group in transition metal-catalyzed CH bond functionalization reactions. This review surveys transition metal-catalyzed CH bond functionalization reactions directed by carboxylates, including carbon-carbon, carbon-oxygen, and other carbon-heteroatom bond formation reactions. Reactions directed by the acidic N-arylamides, which are derived from carboxylic acids and have a directing mode similar to that of carboxylates, are also presented here.