Fig. 1: Development of stereoselective skeleton editing of polynitrogen heterocycles.

a Advantages of semi-saturated tricyclic nucleosides in pharmacokinetic properties or biological properties. b Ring contraction reactions: from 3D aliphatic six-membered ring to 3D aliphatic five-membered ring; from 2D aromatic six-membered ring to 2D aromatic five-membered ring. c Design and challenges of stereoselective ring contraction from a 2D six-membered ring to a 3D five-membered ring. d This work: stereoselective skeletal editing of fused polyazapolycycles.