Methane borylation in a cyclohexane sea

Abstract

C–H Bond Activation Although methane combusts readily at high temperatures, it is generally the hardest hydrocarbon to transform under gentler conditions, owing to its particularly strong C–H bonds. Cook et al. now show that soluble rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium catalysts can slice through these C–H bonds to add boron substituents to methane at 150°C. Smith et al. report the iridium-catalyzed reaction using phosphine ligands to enhance activity. Both studies were performed in cyclohexane solvent, revealing a remarkable selective preference for the methane reaction over functionalization of the cyclic hydrocarbon. Science , this issue pp. [1421][1] and [1424][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aad9289 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aad9730