Core Insights - The research team led by Zhang Xiaoheng from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new method for modifying aromatic amines, which could significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry by reducing costs and improving safety in drug synthesis [1][2][3] Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The team introduced a "direct deamination" strategy that replaces stable carbon-nitrogen bonds in aromatic amines with various functional chemical bonds, avoiding the use of hazardous diazonium intermediates [1][3] - This new method is expected to address the cost challenges associated with anticancer drugs and has received high praise from industry experts, including Pfizer's senior R&D director [1][2] Group 2: Traditional Method Limitations - The traditional method for removing amino groups from aromatic amines involves converting them into unstable diazonium salts, which pose explosion risks and generate significant waste [2][4] - The existing process is not aligned with current green chemistry goals, as it consumes large amounts of copper and incurs high pollution treatment costs [2][4] Group 3: Innovative Approach - The research involved extensive experimentation, leading to the discovery that N-nitrosoamines, initially considered a minor byproduct, play a crucial role in facilitating the synthesis of target products [4][5] - The new method allows for the direct cleavage of carbon-nitrogen bonds under mild conditions, using inexpensive reagents, and eliminates the need for hazardous intermediates [5][6] Group 4: Industrial Application Potential - The new strategy has been tested on various nitrogen-containing intermediates commonly used in pharmaceuticals, demonstrating its applicability across a wide range of drug precursors [6] - Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies are underway to implement this technology in the synthesis of drug intermediates, potentially reducing production costs by 40%-50% [6]

Core Insights - The chemical sector is experiencing a significant influx of funds, with the chemical ETF (159870) seeing a net subscription of 500 million units during trading hours. This is attributed to a new direct deamination strategy developed by a research team from the University of Science and Technology of China, which allows for the replacement of stable carbon-nitrogen bonds in aromatic amines with various important chemical bonds using common and inexpensive reagents, enabling kilogram-scale synthesis [1]. Group 1 - The new technology is considered a "disruption of 140 years," as it eliminates the need for the dangerous diazonium salt intermediate, addressing safety concerns associated with traditional processes that are prone to explosions [1]. - The new method is expected to reduce the synthesis cost of certain drug intermediates, such as anticancer drugs, by 40% to 50%, benefiting multiple fine chemical sectors including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, pigments, and fragrances [1]. Group 2 - As of October 31, 2025, the top ten weighted stocks in the CSI Sub-Industry Chemical Theme Index (000813) include Wanhua Chemical (600309), Salt Lake Industry (000792), Tianci Materials (002709), Juhua Co. (600160), Cangge Mining (000408), Jinfa Technology (600143), Baofeng Energy (600989), Hualu Hengsheng (600426), Hengli Petrochemical (600346), and Yuntianhua (600096), collectively accounting for 44.83% of the index [2].