Modern Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carbon-Halogen Bond Formation

The high utility of halogenated organic compounds has prompted the development of a vast number of transformations which install the carbon halogen motif. Traditional routes to these building blocks have commonly involved multiple steps, harsh reaction conditions, and the use of stoichiometric and/or toxic reagents. In this regard, using transition metals to catalyze the synthesis of organohalides has become a mature field in itself, and applying these technologies has allowed for a decrease in the production of waste, higher levels of regio- and stereoselectivity, and the ability to produce enantioenriched target compounds. Furthermore, transition metals offer the distinct advantage of possessing a diverse spectrum of mechanistic possibilities which translate to the capability to apply new substrate classes and afford novel and difficult-to-access structures. This Review provides comprehensive coverage of modern transition metal-catalyzed syntheses of organohalides via a diverse array of mechanisms. Attention is given to the seminal stoichiometric organometallic studies which led to the corresponding catalytic processes being realized. By breaking this field down into the synthesis of aryl, vinyl, and alkyl halides, it becomes clear which methods have surfaced as most favored for each individual class. In general, a pronounced shift toward the use of C-H bonds as key functional groups, in addition to methods which proceed by catalytic, radical-based mechanisms has occurred. Although always evolving, this field appears to be heading in the direction of using starting materials with a significantly lower degree of prefunctionalization in addition to less expensive and abundant metal catalysts.