Destruction and Construction: Application of Dearomatization Strategy in Aromatic Carbon-Nitrogen Bond Functionalization.

The formation of carbon-carbon bonds through the functionalization of aromatic carbon-nitrogen bonds is a highly attractive synthetic strategy in the synthesis of aromatic molecules. In this paper, we report a novel aromatic carbon-nitrogen bond functionalization reaction by using a simple dearomatization strategy. Through this process para-substituted anilines serve as a potential aryl source in the construction of a range of functionalized aromatic molecules, such as quaternary carbon centers, α-keto esters, and aldehydes.