Radical heteroarylation of unactivated remote C(sp3)–H bonds via intramolecular heteroaryl migration

The radical-mediated heteroarylation of unactivated remote C(sp3)–H bonds via intramolecular heteroaryl migration is achieved, leading to a variety of heteroaryl-substituted aliphatic ketones. A library of O-/S-/N-containing heteroaryls such as benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, oxazolyl, and thiazolyl are amenable to the migration approach. The heteroaryl migration is triggered by an azido radical-mediated hydrogen atom abstraction from unactivated aliphatic C(sp3)–H bonds. The transformation features mild C–C bond cleavage, good selectivity for tertiary C(sp3)–H bonds, and broad functional group compatibility.