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Fluorescent pyridine phosphonium salts via transmutation of metallabenzenes

Author

Listed:
  • Yaowei Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Feifei Han

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Zhihong Yin

    (Xiamen University)

  • Yapeng Cai

    (Xiamen University)

  • Xiaoyan Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Hong Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

Abstract

Metallabenzenes are recognized as a unique class of aromatic compounds, not only of structural and theoretical interest but also as platforms to design powerful transformations. Here, we report the successful transmutation of a metallabenzene for pyridine synthesis. This ‘metal-to-nitrogen swapping’ process utilizes readily available ruthenabenzene phosphonium salts and commercially available 2-aminopyridines under mild conditions. The isolation of ruthena-azepines, containing a planar seven-membered aza-metallacycle, along with DFT calculations, supports the nitrogen insertion/metal deletion cascade driven by aromatization. Additionally, we investigate the tunable photophysical properties of the resulting pyridine phosphonium salts.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaowei Zhang & Feifei Han & Zhihong Yin & Yapeng Cai & Xiaoyan Zhang & Hong Zhang, 2025. "Fluorescent pyridine phosphonium salts via transmutation of metallabenzenes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58855-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58855-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jisoo Woo & Colin Stein & Alec H. Christian & Mark D. Levin, 2023. "Carbon-to-nitrogen single-atom transmutation of azaarenes," Nature, Nature, vol. 623(7985), pages 77-82, November.
    2. Hong Lu & Yu Zhang & Xiu-Hong Wang & Ran Zhang & Peng-Fei Xu & Hao Wei, 2024. "Carbon–nitrogen transmutation in polycyclic arenol skeletons to access N-heteroarenes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Mark Peplow, 2023. "‘Almost magical’: chemists can now move single atoms in and out of a molecule’s core," Nature, Nature, vol. 618(7963), pages 21-24, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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