Bathophenanthroline-Promoted C(sp³)-H Alkylation of N-Heteroarenes Using Alcohols: A Practical Approach

Abstract

We present a transition-metal-free and environmentally friendly method for the alkylation of C(sp³)-H bonds in methylsubstituted N-heteroarenes using alcohols, mediated by bathophenanthroline. This straightforward and practical protocol employs readily available alcohols as alkylating agents, affording the desired alkylated N-heteroarenes in good to excellent yields using a broad range of aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic alcohols. The method also exhibits broad compatibility with various substituted methyl-N-heteroarenes, affording C-alkylated products in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic investigations, including deuterium labeling and intermediate analysis, confirm that the reaction proceeds via a borrowing hydrogen (BH) pathway.

Supplementary files

Transparent peer review

To support increased transparency, we offer authors the option to publish the peer review history alongside their article.

View this article’s peer review history

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
27 Jun 2025
Accepted
14 Aug 2025
First published
15 Aug 2025

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2025, Accepted Manuscript

Bathophenanthroline-Promoted C(sp³)-H Alkylation of N-Heteroarenes Using Alcohols: A Practical Approach

V. Sankar, R. Sakthiganapathi, A. Singh Baghel, B. Sivakumar and S. Mannathan, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2025, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D5OB01053E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements