Photosensitization enables Pauson-Khand-type reactions with nitrenes. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38301027/)
These scientists wanted to find a new way to make certain chemical compounds that are important for making medicines. They used a reaction called the Pauson-Khand reaction, which is a very common reaction in chemistry. Normally, this reaction uses a molecule called carbon monoxide to make a new molecule. But the scientists wanted to see if they could use a different molecule called nitrene instead.
To do this, they first made a molecule called a nitrene precursor. Then, they mixed this precursor with another molecule called a nonconjugated diene. When these two molecules reacted together, they formed a new molecule that looked like a bicycle with two wheels.
This new molecule is similar to some molecules that are commonly found in medicines, like piperidine, morpholine, and piperazine. By making these new molecules, the scientists hoped to find new ways to make medicines that could help people.
To understand how this reaction worked, the scientists used both experiments and computer simulations. They found that the nitrene molecule acted like a special kind of molecule called a diradical, which is very reactive. This diradical transferred its reactivity to the nonconjugated diene, allowing the reaction to happen.
Finally, the scientists showed that this new reaction could be useful in making changes to existing medicines. They used it to add new parts to different drug compounds. They also used it to discover new molecules that could be used to treat certain diseases.
Overall, these scientists found a new way to make important molecules for medicines using a reaction with nitrene. This discovery could help in developing new drugs and improving existing ones.
Li F., Zhu WF., Empel C., Datsenko O., Kumar A., Xu Y., Ehrler JHM., Atodiresei I., Knapp S., Mykhailiuk PK., Proschak E., Koenigs RM. Photosensitization enables Pauson-Khand-type reactions with nitrenes. Science. 2024 Feb 2;383(6682):498-503. doi: 10.1126/science.adm8095. Epub 2024 Feb 1.