Azepanes

This illustration is inspired by a research article from Leonori's research group.
Their article discusses a new method for making a type of chemical structure called "azepanes." These structures have a ring of seven carbon and nitrogen atoms. This type of structure is not very common in the field of chemistry compared to other structures with six or five atoms in their rings.

The researchers developed a way to create these azepanes from simple chemicals called nitroarenes. They use a special process that involves shining blue light on these nitroarenes, which transforms them into a specific type of molecule called a "singlet nitrene." This process happens at room temperature, making it practical and efficient. The result is a transformation of a six-membered ring structure into a seven-membered ring structure.

After this initial step, they use a process called hydrogenolysis to further modify the structure and obtain the final azepane molecules. This final step is what is represented in my illustration. Remarkably, this entire process is completed in just two steps.

The researchers demonstrated the usefulness of this method by creating various azepane structures, which are similar to existing drugs with a different type of ring. This new method opens up possibilities for exploring different three-dimensional chemical structures, which can be important for discovering new drugs and materials. The article has gained attention in the scientific community, indicating its significance in advancing the field of chemistry.