7. Link activation

Activating the $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{ }—\mathrm{ H}$ bond is a formidable problem for the organic chemist, who has to use sometimes long and complicated circuitous routes to achieve it.

The oxidative addition of the H ₂ molecule and the neighboring electronegativities of C and H suggest the possibility of oxidative addition of the bond $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{ }—\mathrm{ H}$ . Examples are few and far between. We need to start by finding a molecule that can exhibit an electron...