Recent applications of heteroatom-centered radicals as catalysts in organic synthesis

Radical catalysis is an innovative synthetic approach employing the open shell reactive radical species as catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions. Generally, free organic radicals derived from elements like boron, nitrogen, sulfur, bromine and tin are utilized due to their reversibility in radical addition/elimination processes. Extensive efforts have been devoted to expanding the use of radical species as catalysts in [3+2] cycloaddition, oxidative cleavage of olefins, cyclopropanation, C-H functionalization, C-H amination, and other related transformations. This review summarizes the advancements in designing and generating active organic radicals, as well as their involvement in catalyzing intriguing organic reactions throughout the catalytic cycle. [GRAPHICS] .