Amidines as Directing Group in C-H Activation and Their Application in Medicinal, and Materials Chemistry

Amidine compounds have extensive applications in biological science because of their ability to form noncovalent interactions with DNA molecular targets and proteins Also, their unique structural and electronic properties allow them to be used as organobases, organocatalysts, ligands for metal-catalyzed reactions, and synthetic building blocks for designing a large class of different synthetic heterocyclic compounds. As a result of their importance, much research has been conducted on developing efficient methods of synthesizing amidines, including ways to selectively functionalize C-H and C-N bonds on amidine molecules. In addition to their significant biological activities such as anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, neuroprotective, and antifungal properties, their distinctive physicochemical properties have facilitated their application in materials science, particularly in areas such as optoelectronic devices, CO₂ capture, energy-storage systems, ion sensing, and corrosion protection. This review highlights recent developments in the synthesis and functionalization of amidines via C-H activation and discusses their emerging roles in medicinal and materials chemistry.