Mechanochemistry-enabled radical C-H alkylation of N-heteroarenes with alkylboronic acids.

A liquid-assisted mechanochemical Minisci alkylation enables the direct C-H alkylation of bio-relevant N-heteroarenes with commercially available alkylboronic acids using inexpensive potassium persulfate. The operationally simple protocol proceeds under ambient conditions, exhibits broad substrate scope, enables late-stage functionalization of drug-derived scaffolds, and is demonstrated on gram scale.