Methods that directly functionalize pyridines are in high demand due to their presence in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. A reaction that selectively transforms the 4-position C-H bonds in pyridines into C-PPh3+ groups that are subsequently converted into heteroaryl ethers is presented. The two step sequence is effective on complex pyridines, pharmaceutical molecules and other classes of heterocycles. Initial studies show that C-C, C-N and C-S bond formations are also amenable.

Pyridines are widely used across the chemical sciences in applications ranging from pharmaceuticals, ligands for metal complex and battery technologies. Direct functionalization of pyridine C–H bonds is an important strategy to make useful pyridine derivatives, but there are few ways to selectively transform the 4-position of the scaffold. We recently reported that pyridines can be converted into heterocyclic phosphonium salts that can serve as generic handles for multiple subsequent bond-forming processes. Reactions with nucleophiles and transition-metal cross-couplings will be described to make C–O, C–S, C–N, and C–C bonds in a diverse range of pyridines including those embedded in complex pharmaceuticals.1 Introduction2 Direct, Regioselective Functionalization of Pyridines3 4-Position Selectivity via Metal Catalysis4 Versatile Functional Groups versus Specific Bond Constructions5 Phosphonium Salts as Reagents for Pyridine Functionalization6 Conclusions

Many drug fragments and therapeutic compounds contain multiple pyridines and diazines. Developing site-selective reactions where specific C–H bonds can be transformed in polyazine structures would enable rapid access to valuable derivatives. We present a study that addresses this challenge by selectively installing a phosphonium ion as a versatile functional handle. Inherent factors that control site-selectivity are described along with mechanistically driven approaches for site-selective switching, where the C–+PPh3 group can be predictably installed at other positions in the polyazine system. Simple protocols, readily available reagents and application to complex drug-like molecules make this approach appealing to medicinal chemists.

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Methods to synthesize alkylated pyridines are valuable because these structures are prevalent in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. We have developed a distinct approach to construct 4‐alkylpyridines using dearomatized pyridylphosphonium ylide intermediates in a Wittig olefination‐rearomatization sequence. Pyridine N‐activation is key to this strategy, and N‐triazinylpyridinium salts enable coupling between a wide variety of substituted pyridines and aldehydes. The alkylation protocol is viable for late‐stage functionalization, including methylation of pyridine‐containing drugs. This approach represents an alternative to metal‐catalyzed sp2‐sp3 cross‐coupling reactions and Minisci‐type processes.