Strategies Toward the Catalyst-Free α-C–H Functionalizations of Tertiary Amines

α-C–H functionalization of tertiary amines has been a highly studied field for the past two decades because several important nitrogen containing heterocycles or compounds can be synthesized through this strategy. Though transition metal catalysts and some metal-free catalysts are mainly used for these reactions, a few catalyst-free reactions have recently been efficiently performed. Catalyst-free reactions are cost-effective, less sensitive to air/moisture, easier to operate, have a simple purification process, and are relatively environment-friendly. In this article, we have summarized all the α-C–H functionalization reactions of tertiary amines performed without using any external catalysts. The content of this article will undoubtedly encourage readers to do more work in this area.

Graphical Abstract