Catalytic C‐H Functionalization of Unreactive Furan Cores
C?H functionalization is one of the most convenient and powerful tools in the arsenal of modern chemistry, deservedly nominated as the "Holy Grail" of organic synthesis. A frequent disadvantage of this method is the need for harsh reaction conditions to carry out transformations of inert C?H bonds, which limits the possibility of its use for modifying less stable substrates. Biomass?derived furan platform chemicals, which have a relatively unstable aromatic furan core and highly reactive side chain substituents, are extremely promising and valuable organic molecules that are currently widely used in a variety of research and industrial fields. The high sensitivity of furan derivatives to acids, strong oxidants, and high temperatures significantly limits the use of classical methods of C?H functionalization for their modification. New methods of catalytic functionalization of non?reactive furan cores are urgently required to obtain a new generation of materials with controlled properties and potentially bioactive substances.
Reference: Chem. Sus. Chem., 2020, ASAP
