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, very little has been witnessed in such C‐to‐N‐transmutation reactions of aromatics that could lead to facile synthesis of pyridines or higher azaarenes. In this context, Levin and co‐workers recently disclosed a process for procuring pyridines from the corresponding aryl azides via the regioselective nitrene internalization process without perturbing the rest of the aromatic skeleton. This innovative work enabled access to various pyridine derivatives selectively through direct nitrogen scan operations on benzene derivatives, which otherwise was not feasible.