Emerging Applications of Thiol-Based Catalysts in Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions: A Comprehensive Review

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) is a fundamental class of radical transformations that enables the direct generation of open-shell radical intermediates from R–H bonds (R = C, N, etc.), offering unique opportunities for green and sustainable synthesis. Significant progress has been made not only in identifying diverse molecular scaffolds capable of mediating HAT but also in developing synthetic methodologies to achieve precise stereocontrol in these processes. In this context, this review highlights recent advances in the use of sugar-derived compounds, cysteine-containing peptides, and chiral/achiral thiols/thiophenols as catalysts for stereoselective HAT, emphasizing their potential to expand the synthetic utility of HAT in organic transformations.