In 2006 and again in 2007 the Zincke reaction was rediscovered by a research group from Japan [12] and a group from the USA.[13] Both groups claimed the synthesis of a 12 membered diazaannulene (structure 1) from an N-aryl pyridinium chloride and an amine, an aniline in the case of the Japanese group (depicted below) and an aliphatic amine (anticipating surfactant properties) in the case of the American group.