C-glycosides form the basis of numerous therapeutic compounds, but their synthesis using sustainable catalysts is a challenge. Here, an iron-catalysed reductive cross-coupling method is developed that couples glycosyl radicals, generated in situ from glycosyl chlorides, with unsaturated electrophiles. Mechanistic experiments indicate that the active catalytic species is a low-valent iron complex.
- Quanquan Wang
- Qikai Sun
- Ming Joo Koh
