Metal-, Photocatalyst-, and Light-Free, Late-Stage C-H Alkylation of Heteroarenes and 1,4-Quinones Using Carboxylic Acids.

Contrary to the accepted convention, this work shows that Minisci-type C-H alkylation does not require any metal, photocatalyst, light, or prefunctionalization of the readily available and inexpensive carboxylic acids to proceed well under mild conditions. These mild conditions can be utilized for late-stage alkylations of complex molecules, including pharmaceutical compounds and light-sensitive compounds which degrade under photocatalytic conditions.