Advances in Free-Radical Promoted C(sp3)-C(sp3) Bond Conversion

Efficient C-C bond conversion might bring innovation to clean energy and circular economy. In the past several decades, developments of relatively chemical active carbon-carbon multibond conversion have been made. However, the research progress on effective functionalization of inert C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) bond is heavy going. The advances in this area from a free-radical chemistry point of view are summarized, which can help researchers who are interested in this topic to understand it quickly. The progesses as well as the corresponding mechanisms for free-radical promoted selective cleavage of saturated C-C bonds in alcohols and ethers, amines, aryl alkanes and simple alkancz are demonstrated. In each part, the explorations are depicted according to the initiating manners such as thermochemistry, photochemistry and electrochemistry.