Artificial metabolism-like multicatalytic networks of reactions create unique opportunities to tackle problems in organic synthesis that are difficult to address with classic approaches. For instance, methods enabling the functionalization of C-H bonds are highly attractive for fine chemical synthesis as they have the potential to create shortcuts in current synthetic routes, thereby increasing the overall yields, lowering the amounts of resources and energy consumed, as well as limiting the generation of waste.

The selective functionalization of one out of many similar C-H bonds represents a great challenge. Particularly difficult is the functionalization of unactivated aliphatic C(sp³)-H bonds. We developed a multicatalytic method for a direct arylation of aliphatic alcohols at their inherently unreactive β-C(sp³)-H bonds, occurring under mild conditions without the use of highly reactive reagents (Nat. Catal. 2019, 2, 114). Given that the catalytic reactions employed in the system occur under mild conditions, the overall transformation of this substrate at its otherwise unreactive strong C(sp³)-H bond occurs also under mild conditions.