2-azidoacrylic acid esters are converted into phosphazide intermediates upon treatment with Amphos, followed by nucleophile-driven Michael addition. This transformation proceeds with concurrent nitrogen–nitrogen bond cleavage, affording β-heteroatom-substituted diazo esters efficiently under mild conditions. Credit: Professor Suguru Yoshida from Tokyo University of Science, Japan. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.4448961

In the world of organic chemistry, nitrogen-containing organic compounds are ubiquitous, forming the backbone of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and functional materials.…