A photochemical strategy for pyrazole to imidazole conversion

Chemical Science 2026 Open access

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Authors: Youhao Wei, Kengo Kasama, Antón Igartua, Dilara Berna Yildiz, Aurore Ceuninck, Thiago dos Santos, Cornelia Büttner, Damien Thévenet, Martin Bossart, Volker Derdau, M. Méndez-Pérez, Philippe Jubault
+3 more Thomas Poisson, Baptiste Roure, Daniele Leonori
DOI: 10.1039/d6sc03470e
Cited by: 1
References: 44

Abstract

]azines, a class of high-value heteroaromatics that have never previously been reconfigured. This photochemical strategy is readily translated to continuous flow, confirming its potential for scalable applications. Our mechanistic studies support an N-N bond homolysis pathway in which solvent-dependent conformational changes govern the reactivity of the ensuing bi-nitrogen-radical intermediates. Overall, this work establishes a practical platform for direct core reconfiguration, providing modular access to imidazole analogues of pyrazoles that are otherwise difficult to prepare or very expensive.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Radical Photochemical Reactions Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrroles Synthesis and Reactivity of Heterocycles

Publication details

Journal / source
Chemical Science
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Volume
17
Issue
26
Pages
12860–12870
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN