Exploiting Strained Rings in Chelation Guided C−H Functionalization: Integration of C−H Activation with Ring Cleavage

Strained ring systems are regarded as privileged coupling partners in directed C−H bond functionalization and have emerged as a potential research area in organic synthesis. The inherent ring strain in these systems acts as a driving force, allowing the facile construction of diversified structural scaffolds via integrating C−H activation and ring‐scission. The mechanistic underpinnings allows the implementation of a plethora of C−H bonds across plentiful organic substrates, including the less reactive alkyl ones. Considering the synthetic space, this area will foster developments of novel synthetic methods in chelation guided C−H functionalization. This review will focus on recent developments in transition‐metal catalyzed chelation assisted concomitant C−H activation and ring scission of strained rings to attain molecular complexity.