Functionalisations at activated and non-activated C-H bonds

Site-selective, late-stage functionalisation of non-activated C-H bonds represents a challenge for organic chemists because these bonds are among the strongest in nature. Particularly, with regards to chlorination of non-activated C-H bonds, a method that allows for their benign, facile ad site-selective chlorination has yet to be developed. With this doctoral thesis, we aimed at developing a novel and more sustainable procedure to perform halogenation of non-activated C-H bonds as well as giving our contribution to expanding the knowledge and understanding of the mechanism and catalytic cycle of the reaction. We also explored the use of palladium catalysts for the alpha-arylation of ortho-chloro toluenes with diketones. Despite diketones carry activated C-H bonds, a facile and sustainable functionalization of those bonds hasn't been found yet and existing protocols rely on the use of stoichiometric amounts of lead complexes. The aim of this project was to substitute the toxic metal lead with palladium used in catalytic amounts. We also gave our contribution to gaining evidence and exploring the mechanism and catalytic cycle of the cross-coupling reaction