Cobalt-catalysed C–H methylation for late-stage drug diversification

The magic methyl effect is well acknowledged in medicinal chemistry, but despite its significance, accessing such analogues via derivatization at a late stage remains a pivotal challenge. In an effort to mitigate this major limitation, we here present a strategy for the cobalt-catalysed late-stage C–H methylation of structurally complex drug molecules. Enabling broad applicability, the transformation relies on a boron-based methyl source and takes advantage of inherently present functional groups to guide the C–H activation. The relative reactivity observed for distinct classes of functionalities were determined and the sensitivity of the transformation towards a panel of common functional motifs was tested under various reaction conditions. Without the need for prefunctionalization or postdeprotection, a diverse array of marketed drug molecules and natural products could be methylated in a predictable manner. Subsequent physicochemical and biological testing confirmed the magnitude with which this seemingly minor structural change can affect important drug properties. Despite the importance of C–H methylation in medicinal chemistry, the application to densely functionalized complex molecules remains a challenge. Now, a novel cobalt-catalysed method takes advantage of inherently present functional groups to guide the C–H activation and a boron-based methyl source enables the late stage C–H methylation of pharmaceutically relevant substrates.