Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Zhang Xiaoheng from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a groundbreaking method for direct deamination functionalization using N-nitrosamines, which challenges the traditional industrial processes that have been in use for 140 years [1] Summary by Relevant Sections Research Breakthrough - The new method allows for the direct transformation of aromatic amines into various C-X bonds (including carbon-halogen, carbon-oxygen, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-carbon bonds) through the in-situ formation of N-nitrosamine intermediates under nitric acid mediation, followed by the removal of dinitrogen oxide [1] Industrial Implications - This innovative approach addresses several issues associated with the traditional stepwise strategy, such as the instability and explosive hazards of diazonium salts, significant copper consumption, and limited substrate compatibility [1] Practical Application - The research team has also developed a one-pot deamination cross-coupling strategy, enabling multiple cross-coupling reactions to be completed within the same reaction system by simply adding the corresponding coupling reagents to the deamination intermediate [1] Scalability - The new method can efficiently achieve kilogram-scale synthesis of target products using common laboratory reagents, making it applicable in pharmaceutical and materials manufacturing sectors [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a groundbreaking research published in Nature, which introduces a new method for direct deaminative functionalization using N-nitroamines, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional aromatic amine transformations that rely on hazardous diazonium salts [1][2]. Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The research presents a novel approach that allows for the direct conversion of inert aromatic carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bonds into various important chemical bonds, including carbon-halogen, carbon-oxygen, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-carbon bonds [1][2]. - This method utilizes common laboratory reagents and enables kilogram-scale synthesis, challenging the traditional processes that have been in use for 140 years [2][3]. Group 2: Industrial Implications - The new strategy is expected to have broad applications in critical fields such as pharmaceuticals and materials manufacturing, offering a safe and economical alternative to the widely used but hazardous aryl diazonium chemistry [2][3]. - The direct deaminative functionalization method simplifies the synthesis process and subsequent functionalization by combining deaminative functionalization with transition metal-catalyzed arylation [2][3]. Group 3: Mechanism and Advantages - Mechanistic studies indicate that the reactivity of the aromatic carbon cation equivalent during the deamination process is typically dominant, highlighting the potential of this method in synthetic chemistry [3]. - The direct deamination approach provides a significant advantage over other deaminative functionalization methods, as it is applicable to a wide range of drug-relevant heteroaryl amines with varying electronic and structural properties [2][3].