8-Aminoquinoline is a common nitrogen-containing heterocyclic framework in many natural products, functional materials and useful drugs. It has been developed as a powerful bidentate directing group or ligand auxiliary in the field of C-H bond activation/functionalization in recent years. In this context, the synthesis of substituted 8-aminoquinoline is of great importance. In this review we focus on the functionalization of positions C2-C7 on the 8-aminoquinoline ring, which involves the formation of C-C and C-Z (Z = heteroatom) bonds by transition metal catalysts, photocatalysts or metal-free conditions. Mechanistically, a single electron transfer (SET) pathway is suggested in most cases.
Keywords: 8-Aminoquinoline; Remote C–H functionalization; Single electron transfer mechanism; Site-selective.