C–H Alkylation of Cubanes via Catalytic Generation of Cubyl Radicals

A catalytic method for the C–H alkylation of cubanes is described. Some hydrogen atom transfer catalysts enable the direct abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the C–H bond of cubanes, followed by conjugate addition of the generated cubyl radicals to electron-deficient alkenes. Synthetic applications of the functionalization method developed are also described.