GoKawiilPositional isomers of pyridines often display distinct biological activities1,2 yet their direct interconversion remains largely inaccessible, so each isomer is typically prepared through an independent synthesis. Here we report a general strategy for pyridine positional isomerization enabled by controlled reorganization of the heteroaromatic core through sequential nitrogen insertion and deletion. N-atom transposition allows predictable translocation of preinstalled substituents without altering substituent identity. The method is broadly applicable to mono-, di-, and multisubstituted pyridines and operates across structurally complex molecular environments, providing direct access to positional isomers. This work establishes positional isomerization as a practical synthetic transformation, defining pyridine substitution patterns as mutable variables in retrosynthetic design.
Positional isomerisation of pyridine via nitrogen transposition
Why This Matters
This breakthrough in pyridine isomerization offers a new, versatile method for selectively modifying pyridine structures, enabling more efficient synthesis of biologically active compounds with distinct properties. It opens up possibilities for tailored drug development and advanced material design by allowing precise control over pyridine substitution patterns. This innovation significantly enhances the toolkit for organic chemists working on complex molecular architectures.
Key Takeaways
- Enables direct interconversion of pyridine positional isomers.
- Operates across various substituted and complex pyridine structures.
- Expands synthetic flexibility by making substitution patterns mutable in retrosynthesis.
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