Direct Carboxylation of C(sp3)-H and C(sp2)-H Bonds with CO2 by Transition-Metal-Catalyzed and Base-Mediated Reactions

This review focuses on recent advances in the field of direct carboxylation reactions of C(sp3)-H and C(sp2)-H bonds using CO2 encompassing both transition-metal-catalysis and base-mediated approach. The review is not intended to be comprehensive, but aims to analyze representative examples from the literature, including transition-metal catalyzed carboxylation of benzylic and allylic C(sp3)-H functionalities using CO2 which is at a “nascent stage”. Examples of light-driven carboxylation reactions of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds are also considered. Concerning C(sp3)-H and C(sp2)-H deprotonation reactions mediated by bases with subsequent carboxylation of the carbon nucleophile, few examples of catalytic processes are reported in the literature. In spite of this, several examples of base-promoted reactions integrating “base recycling” or “base regeneration (through electrosynthesis)” steps have been reported. Representative examples of synthetically efficient, base-promoted processes are included in the review.