This review provides insights into thein situgenerated radicals triggered carbon–carbon bond cleavage reactions.

Ready availability, low cost and low toxicity of cobalt salts have redirected the attention of researchers away from noble metals, such as Pd, Rh, and Ir, towards Co in the field of C–H functionalization. In this context, the examples of Co-catalysed functionalization have exponentially grown over the last few decades. This present review focuses on the most recent developments on Co-catalysed C(sp²)–H and C(sp³)–H functionalizations. Included is also a comprehensive overview of enantioselective transformations.