Synthetic Advances in the C–H Activation of Rigid Scaffold Molecules

Abstract

The remarkable structural and electronic properties of rigid non-conjugated hydrocarbons afford attractive opportunities to design molecular building blocks for both medicinal and material applications. The bridgehead positions provide the possibility to append diverse functional groups at specific angles and in specific orientations. The current review summarizes the synthetic development in CH functionalization of three rigid scaffolds namely: (a) cubane, (b) bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP), (c) adamantane.1 Introduction2 Cubane2.1 Cubane Synthesis2.2 Cubane Functionalization3 Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP)3.1 BCP Synthesis3.2 BCP Functionalization4 Adamantane4.1 Adamantane Synthesis4.2 Adamantane Functionalization5 Conclusions and Outlook