During the past decades, C–H activation catalysis has been mostly realized with costly 4d and 5d transition metals. In sharp contrast, earth-abundant base metal complexes have been thus far underutilized in C–H activation technology and could dramatically increase the sustainability of organic syntheses. Recently, our group has put an emphasis on developing sustainable C–H activation processes through 3d base metal catalysis, including manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper catalysis.

Selected publications:

A) Z-J. Zhang,' S. Golling,' S. Cattani, X. Chen, L. Ackermann, "Three-Coordinate Iron(0) Complex-Catalyzed Regioselective C–H Alkylation of Indole Derivatives", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 6897-6904. 'These authors contributed equally Abstract

B) Y. Xu,' Y. Lin,' S. L. Homölle, J. C. A. Oliveira, L. Ackermann, "Enantioselective Cobaltaphotoredox-Catalyzed C–H Activation ", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 34, 24105–24113. 'These authors contributed equally Abstract

C) T. von Münchow, Y.-R. Liu, R. Parmar, S. E. Peters, S. Trienes, L. Ackermann, "Cobaltaelectro-Catalyzed C–H Activation for Central and Axial Double Enantio-Induction", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202405423. Abstract

D) J. Mo,' A. M. Messinis,' J. Li, S. Warratz, L. Ackermann, "Chelation-Assisted Iron-Catalyzed C–H Activations: Scope and Mechanism" Acc. Chem. Res. 2024. 57, 10-22 ' These authors contributed equally. Abstract

E) T. von Münchow', S. Dana', Y. Xu, B. Yuan, L. Ackermann, "Enantioselective electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed aryl C–H activation reactions" Science 2023, 379, 1036–1042. 'These authors contributed equally Abstract highlighted on c&en> , Synform