The Progress of Reductive Coupling Reaction by Iron Catalysis

Abstract The transition metal catalyzed coupling reaction has revolutionized the strategies for forging the carbon‐carbon bonds. In contrast to traditional cross‐coupling methods using pre‐prepared nucleophilic organometallic reagents, reductive coupling reactions for the C−C bonds formation provide some advantages. Because both coupling partners are reduced in the final products using a stoichiometric amount of a reductant, this approach not only avoids the need to use sensitive organometallic species, but also provides an orthogonal and complementary access to classical coupling reaction. Notably, the reductive coupling reactions feature readily available fragments, promote good step economy, exhibit high functional group tolerance and unique chemoselectivity, which have propelled their increasingly popular in the organic synthesis. In recent years, due to the low price, minimal toxicity, and environmentally benign character, iron‐catalyzed carbon‐carbon coupling reactions have garnered significant attention from the organic synthetic chemists and pharmacologists, especially the iron‐catalyzed reductive coupling. This review aims to provide an insightful overview of recent advances in iron‐catalyzed reductive coupling reactions, and to illustrate their possible reaction mechanisms.