Advancement in the Synthetic Methodologies for C─O and C─S Cross-Coupling Reactions via Homogeneous Catalysis: A Decade of Progress

Abstract

Carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions are a very crucial category of transformations in organic synthesis, enabling the creation of a wide range of chemical structures essential for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and material science. These reactions involve the formation of a bond between carbon and heteroatoms such as nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen, which play a vital role in the functionalization of organic molecules. Various pharmaceutical drug molecules have a carbon-heteroatom bond as the core component. Therefore, the synthesis of such molecules has garnered considerable attention in recent years. This review explores advancements in methodologies and catalytic systems that promote C─X (where X = O, S) bond formation, with a focus on cross-coupling reactions involving sulfur and oxygen. We highlight the development of different novel catalysts, transition metals, transition metal-free methods, and different sulfur and oxygen sources used for this conversion that provided greater efficiency, selectivity, and functional group tolerance over the decade (2014–2024). Also, this review aims to provide the current trends as well as the future scope in carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions.