C-H bond activation

The activation of a C-H bond is a major step towards the functionalization of substrates (hydroxylation, amination …). The metal ions provide a unique way for generating reactive species from dioxygen or nitrogen containing precursors. They also offers a level of control over the intermediates during the catalytic process through coordination. We design in our team original ligands and their metal complexes for various catalytic purposes based on C-H bond activation. As an example we succeeded in activating the relatively inert C-H bonds of toluene with copper complexes (models of particulate methane monooxygenase) and tert-butyl moieties with manganese oxo radical complexes.