C–C bond formation via photocatalytic direct functionalization of simple alkanes

The direct functionalization of alkanes represents a very important challenge in the goal to develop more atom-efficient and clean C–C bond forming reactions. These processes, however, are hampered by the low reactivity of the aliphatic C–H bonds. Photocatalytic processes based on hydrogen atom transfer C–H bond activation strategies have become a useful tool to activate and functionalize these inert compounds. In this article, we summarize the main achievements in this field applied to the development of C–C bond forming reactions, and we discuss the key mechanistic features that enable these transformations.