Skeletal editing is a straightforward synthetic strategy for precise substitution or rearrangement of atoms in core ring structures of complex molecules; it enables quick diversification of compounds that is not possible by applying peripheral editing strategies. Previously reported skeletal editing of common arenes mainly relies on carbene- or nitrene-type insertion reactions or rearrangements. Although powerful, efficient and applicable to late-stage heteroarene core structure modification, these strategies cannot be used for skeletal editing of pyridines. Here we report the direct skeletal editing of pyridines through atom-pair swap from CN to CC to generate benzenes and naphthalenes in a modular fashion. Specifically, we use sequential dearomatization, cycloaddition and rearomatizing retrocycloaddition reactions in a one-pot sequence to transform the parent pyridines into benzenes and naphthalenes bearing diversified substituents at specific sites, as defined by the cycloaddition reaction components. Applications to late-stage skeletal diversification of pyridine cores in several drugs are demonstrated.

骨架编辑是一种简单的合成策略，用于精确替换或重排复杂分子核心环结构中的原子；它可以实现化合物的快速多样化，这是通过应用外围编辑策略不可能实现的。先前报道的常见芳烃的骨架编辑主要依赖于卡宾或氮宾类型的插入反应或重排。尽管这些策略功能强大、高效且适用于后期杂芳烃核心结构修饰，但不能用于吡啶的骨架编辑。在这里，我们报告了通过从 CN 到 CC 的原子对交换对吡啶进行直接骨架编辑，以模块化方式生成苯和萘。具体来说，我们在一锅序列中使用顺序脱芳构化、环加成和再芳构化逆环加成反应，将母体吡啶转化为在特定位点带有多种取代基的苯和萘，这些取代基由环加成反应组分定义。证明了吡啶核心在多种药物中的后期骨骼多样化中的应用。