Programmable remodelling of carbon-nitrogen connectivity in amines.

Programmable remodelling of C-N bonds in tertiary benzylamines enables direct diversification of amine frameworks with complex molecular fragments.

• Why it matters: This work addresses the longstanding challenge of reconfiguring C-N connectivity in fully elaborated amines, which is crucial for expanding molecular diversity in drug discovery and chemical synthesis.
• What they did: The authors developed a catalytic strategy involving N-alkylation to form quaternary ammonium intermediates, allowing palladium-catalysed disassembly and reconfiguration of C-N bonds across various molecular fragments.
• The result: This approach enables systematic and programmable insertion of diverse units, from single carbons to complex heterocycles, opening new avenues for molecular design and functionalization of amine-based compounds.