The conversion of vast low-value saturated hydrocarbons into valuable chemicals is of great interest. Thanks to the progression of organometallic and coordination chemistry, transition metal catalysed C sp³–H bond functionalisation has now become a powerful tool for alkane transformations. Specifically, methods for alkane functionalisation include radical initiated C–H functionalisation, carbene/nitrene insertion, and transition metal catalysed C–H bond activation. This perspective provides a systematic and concise overview of each protocol, highlighting the factors that govern regioselectivity in these reactions. The challenges of the existing catalytic tactics and future directions for catalyst development in this field will be presented.

中文翻译：

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使用分子催化剂进行烷烃官能化的挑战和机遇

将大量低价值饱和碳氢化合物转化为有价值的化学品是非常令人感兴趣的。由于有机金属和配位化学的进步，过渡金属催化的 C sp ³ -H 键官能化现在已成为烷烃转化的有力工具。具体来说，烷烃官能化的方法包括自由基引发的 C-H 官能化、卡宾/氮烯插入和过渡金属催化的 C-H 键活化。这个观点提供了每个协议的系统和简洁的概述，突出了在这些反应中控制区域选择性的因素。将介绍现有催化策略的挑战以及该领域催化剂发展的未来方向。