Inexpensive Radical Methylation and Related Alkylations of Heteroarenes.

A simple method for the introduction of a methyl and higher aliphatic group to various heteroarenes using very inexpensive reagents is described. It is based on the radical addition of a carboxylic xanthate followed by decarboxylation. Depending on the heteroarene structure, the decarboxylation can be spontaneous or induced by heating in N,N-dimethylacetamide or N-methyl pyrrolidone in a microwave oven.