TCNHPI Esters for Radical Cross-Coupling

Recent medicinal chemistry experienced tremendous momentum from the development of radical C–C cross-coupling reactions, which enable the modular assembly of diverse bioactive molecules. Key reagents in this field include pinacol boronates, trifluoroborates, sulfinates, and N-hydroxyphtalimide (NHPI) esters. Following the pivotal work of Baran and Weix in 2016, NHPI esters have seen rapid adoption. Tetrachloro-N-hydroxyphthalimide (TCNHPI) esters, an advanced variant with a lower redox potential, further expand the scope of these reactions by enabling the synthesis of sterically hindered or otherwise less reactive substrates.