Recent advances in iron-catalyzed 1,2-difunctionalization of alkenes

Iron catalysts overcome the difficulties in the oxidative addition of halogenated hydrocarbons through the strategy of alkene insertion to form iron-carbon species and altering the reaction pathway to construct C-C and C-X bonds. In recent years, the replacement of precious metal catalysts with iron-based systems in alkene functionalization reactions has garnered significant interest among chemists due to their cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and unique reactivity. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the iron-catalyzed 1,2-difunctionalization reactions of alkenes. At present, the existing research has made significant progress in this field, especially achieving outstanding results in expanding the applicable range of substrates and controlling chemical selectivity. We summarize the latest progress in these transformations and elucidate the underlying mechanisms that endow iron catalysts with exceptional performance, as well as their potential applications in synthetic chemistry.