University of Chicago team develops new method to swap carbon for nitrogen in drug compounds
Researchers at the University of Chicago published a paper in Science on October 13, 2026, describing a new technique to replace carbon atoms with nitrogen in molecules.
The three-step chemical process
The team began with ring-shaped molecules that contained an added group of nitrogen atoms. They exposed these structures to blue light and oxygen while using a reagent called tetramethylthiourea to open the carbon ring. A final chemical treatment then sealed the ring back together, placing the new nitrogen atom where the old carbon was.
Advantages over older methods
This approach turns a problem that usually stops older reactions into a helpful tool for the process. Previous techniques often required harsh chemicals or failed when specific chemical steps went wrong. The new method offers a gentler and more versatile way to perform skeletal editing.
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