A general method for Cu-catalyzed C-H sulfenylation of purines, 7-deaza- and 9-deazapurines with aryl- or alkyldisulfides has been developed. In purines, the reaction occurs at position 8, in 7-deazapurines at position 7 and in 9-deazapurines at position 9, leading to new interesting arylsulfanyl derivatives of purine or deazapurine bases. The resulting 8-arylsulfanylpurines undergo Liebesking-Srogl coupling with arylstannanes or boronic acids, whereas the (arylsulfanyl)deazapurines are not reactive under these conditions.

Novel direct C-H borylations of 7-deazapurines to position 8 by B2pin2 under Ir catalysis were followed by Suzuki cross-couplings with aryl halides and other functional group transformations to give diverse 8-substituted 7-deazaadenines.

Selective methods for Pd and Cu-catalyzed C–H aminations and chloroaminations of 7-deazapurines were developed.