Accessing Pyridines via a Nitrene Internalization Process

Pyridines are valuable pharmacophores, and their access via direct and selective transmutation of carbon atom with desired nitrogen could become crucial in drug discovery processes. However, only scarce examples can be found when it comes C-to-N-transmutation reactions of aromatics that could lead to the facile synthesis of pyridines or other azaarenes. In this context, Levin and co-workers recently disclosed a process leading to pyridines from the corresponding aryl azides via the regioselective nitrene internalization process. Notably, the transformation did not lead to any further modification of the rest of the aromatic skeleton. This innovative work enabled selectively accessing various pyridine derivatives through direct nitrogen scan operations on benzene derivatives, which were otherwise not feasible.