Study of the interaction of 2H-furo[3,2-b]pyran-2-ones with nitrogen-containing nucleophiles

• Constantine V. Milyutin,
• Andrey N. Komogortsev and
• Boris V. Lichitsky

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 556–563, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.44

• subsequent opening of the furanone ring and proton transfer results in final compounds 8, 10 and 11. The synthetic application of obtained pyrazolones 8 was demonstrated by its further derivatization. The interaction with electrophilic agents is determined by the presence of several nucleophilic centers in

Beyond symmetric self-assembly and effective molarity: unlocking functional enzyme mimics with robust organic cages

• Keith G. Andrews

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 421–443, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.30

• , enthalpically stabilizing the rate-limiting attack of alcohol by 7.3 kcal/mol. The highly ordered transition state in this example, thought to prevent charge buildup through a concerted/synchronous proton-transfer mechanism between bifunctional acid units, highlights a key design criteria differing from the

Synthesis, structure, ionochromic and cytotoxic properties of new 2-(indolin-2-yl)-1,3-tropolones

• Yurii A. Sayapin,
• Eugeny A. Gusakov,
• Inna O. Tupaeva,
• Alexander D. Dubonosov,
• Igor V. Dorogan,
• Valery V. Tkachev,
• Anna S. Goncharova,
• Gennady V. Shilov,
• Natalia S. Kuznetsova,
• Svetlana Y. Filippova,
• Tatyana A. Krasnikova,
• Yanis A. Boumber,
• Alexey Y. Maksimov,
• Sergey M. Aldoshin and
• Vladimir I. Minkin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 358–368, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.26

• the 7,8 (OH) form and is caused by the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process due to intramolecular O→N proton migration in the singlet excited state [26][27]. The ionochromic sensitivity of compounds 7a,b and 8a,b to anions was investigated in acetonitrile upon addition of tetra

Recent advances in electrochemical copper catalysis for modern organic synthesis

• Yemin Kim and
• Won Jun Jang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 155–178, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.9

• pair (AQDS•−, 20•+) then generate a benzylic radical 23 and a semiquinone radical ([AQDS–H]•) through proton transfer. The benzylic radical intermediate 23 subsequently reacts with the chiral copper catalyst L3Cu(II)(CN)2 (25) to form a Cu(III) complex 26, which undergoes reductive elimination to

• bromine radical attack that leads to the formation of a cationic brominated copper complex 77. Anodic oxidation and subsequent proton transfer provide the desired product 73 and regenerate the copper catalyst. Olefin addition Hydrofunctionalization and difunctionalization of alkenes are valuable methods

Recent advances in organocatalytic atroposelective reactions

• Henrich Szabados and
• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 55–121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.6

• ring in 159. Based on these findings, a potential reaction pathway was proposed. It starts with a chiral phosphoric acid-supported dehydration of 160 and reaction with the favored configuration of bisindoles 159 to form an allene intermediate Int-38. Proton transfer and subsequent intramolecular

Advances in the use of metal-free tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as catalysts

• Mandeep K. Chahal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3085–3112, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.257

• second-sphere interactions with a multipoint hydrogen-bonding pattern enhance CO2 reduction in organic solvents, improving stability, facilitating proton transfer, reducing energy barriers, and increasing selectivity [20]. Apart from advances in synthetic methodologies [2][21][22][23], the exploration of

Advances in radical peroxidation with hydroperoxides

• Oleg V. Bityukov,
• Pavel Yu. Serdyuchenko,
• Andrey S. Kirillov,
• Gennady I. Nikishin,
• Vera A. Vil’ and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2959–3006, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.249

• the hydrogen atom from TBHP to form the tert-butylperoxy radical (stage D). Next, tert-butylperoxy radical adds to the enol double bond of 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone 21 (step E). Further oxidation of the resulting C-centered radical I into cation II and the proton transfer results in the target product

Synthesis of fluorinated acid-functionalized, electron-rich nickel porphyrins

• Mike Brockmann,
• Jonas Lobbel,
• Lara Unterriker and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2954–2958, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.248

• electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions, a proton source is needed [11]. In this context, trifluoroacetic acid is very frequently chosen as the proton source, because it is a strong acid but just not strong enough to destroy (demetallate) the Ni porphyrin [10]. Covalent attachment of acids facilitates proton

• transfer and increases the efficiency [12]. Three conditions should be met for the target porphyrins of this study. 1. The acid covalently bound to the porphyrin should have an acid strength similar to trifluoroacetic acid. 2. The length of the tether with which the acid group is bound should be sufficient

Computational design for enantioselective CO₂ capture: asymmetric frustrated Lewis pairs in epoxide transformations

• Maxime Ferrer,
• Iñigo Iribarren,
• Tim Renningholtz,
• Ibon Alkorta and
• Cristina Trujillo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2668–2681, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.224

• H2 over CO2 becomes crucial for effective CO2 reduction [7]. Additionally, the strength of the interaction between the catalyst and the resulting system after hydride transfer presents a limitation. The formation of a robust LA–oxygen interaction may impede proton transfer to the basic oxygen atom

Asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of chiral homoallylic amines

• Nikolay S. Kondratyev and
• Andrei V. Malkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2349–2377, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.201

• of the analogous nucleophilic addition of cyanide was reported by Chen and Qiao [38] in 2023 (Figure 4). The calculations revealed that ΔG profile for the reaction pathway via 76, in which the imine molecule is activated by the direct chiral proton transfer from the COBI ion and then later attacked

The Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction in its maturity: innovation and improvements since its 21st birthday (2019–2023)

• Cristina Martini,
• Muhammad Idham Darussalam Mardjan and
• Andrea Basso

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1839–1879, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.162

• . Sashidhara et al. reported no conversion, while Liu et al. reported a 58% yield of the GBB product, postulating the ability of ethylene glycol to function as an activator (through hydrogen bonding) and a facilitator of proton transfer. After this discovery, ethylene glycol has never been employed in GBB

Benzylic C(sp³)–H fluorination

• Alexander P. Atkins,
• Alice C. Dean and
• Alastair J. J. Lennox

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1527–1547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.137

• in the concerted transfer of an electron and a proton from the benzylic substrate resulting in the benzylic radical II – pathway [A] [67]. This radical can also be accessed via sequential oxidative single-electron-transfer (SET) and proton-transfer (PT) steps (pathway [B]), or concerted proton

• of a host of functional groups [68]. This approach can also be applied for nucleophilic fluorination of benzylic substrates. This occurs via sequential electron-transfer and proton-transfer steps, as outlined in Figure 35 [87]. Single-electron oxidation of benzylic substrate I at the anode generates

• radical cation II. The acidity of benzylic protons is augmented after oxidation of the adjacent π-system, facilitating rapid proton transfer at this position, resulting in benzylic radical III [13][88]. Single-electron oxidation of the resulting benzylic radical is facile and expected to occur readily

Generation of alkyl and acyl radicals by visible-light photoredox catalysis: direct activation of C–O bonds in organic transformations

• Mithu Roy,
• Bitan Sardar,
• Itu Mallick and
• Dipankar Srimani

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1348–1375, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.119

• the thiyl radical by [Ir(II)] generates a thiolate anion and [Ir(III)]. Finally, the thiolate anion is converted to the aryl thiol via proton transfer to complete the catalytic cycle. In 2021, MacMillan and co-workers [55] introduced a cross-coupling reaction of alcohols with aryl halides through

Ligand effects, solvent cooperation, and large kinetic solvent deuterium isotope effects in gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroamination

• Ruichen Lan,
• Brock Yager,
• Yoonsun Jee,
• Cynthia S. Day and
• Amanda C. Jones

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 479–496, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.43

• ]. Protic additives are widely accepted to “facilitate proton transfer,” but they can also influence the aggregation of charged intermediates. Most mechanistic discussions incorporate protodeauration of alkylgold intermediates and consider a continuum from rate or enantio-determining nucleophilic attack

• /protodeauration paradigm for gold catalysis, we propose the data is also consistent with a mechanism involving gold-mediated tautomerization to release a proton, and concerted nucleophilic attack/proton transfer to the alkene (Scheme 2). Substrate effects: Substrate trends in 5-exo-trig alkene hydroamination may

• deviating from classic π-activation. Solvent effects that subtly impact solubility and proton transfer processes are likely to mask the impact of individual mechanistic steps involving gold and are not adequate to distinguish between the contrasting mechanisms under consideration here (Scheme 1 vs Scheme 2

Mechanisms for radical reactions initiating from N-hydroxyphthalimide esters

• Carlos R. Azpilcueta-Nicolas and
• Jean-Philip Lumb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 346–378, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.35

• hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) or sequential electron transfer and proton transfer (ET/PT) steps. Alternatively, redox-neutral transformations can be envisioned using catalytic reductants, which can enable a complementary scope of downstream functionalizations (Scheme 2B). In this perspective, we present an

• CO2. Radical 12 undergoes intermolecular addition to the olefin acceptor 13 to form radical intermediate 14. Finally, under reductive conditions radical 14 can undergo hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) or sequential electron transfer and proton transfer (ET/PT) to form the conjugate addition product 15

• ester (complex 68). This process delivers substrate radical 9 and nicotinyl radical 69 following proton transfer to the phthalimidyl anion. Then, addition of 9 to α,β-unsaturated ester 70 yields radical intermediate 71. At this stage, HAT mediated by another equivalent of BuNAH delivers product 72, with

Substitution reactions in the acenaphthene analog of quino[7,8-h]quinoline and an unusual synthesis of the corresponding acenaphthylenes by tele-elimination

• Ekaterina V. Kolupaeva,
• Narek A. Dzhangiryan,
• Alexander F. Pozharskii,
• Oleg P. Demidov and
• Valery A. Ozeryanskii

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 243–253, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.24

• 3.353 Å). Interestingly, as the acidity of the neighboring component in the crystal structure and the degree of proton transfer from it to the nitrogen atoms of quinoquinoline 5 decrease, the internitrogen distance regularly increases (N…N, Å): 2.709 (HCl), 2.808 (4,6-dichlororesorcinol), 2.813–2.835

Photochromic derivatives of indigo: historical overview of development, challenges and applications

• Gökhan Kaplan,
• Zeynel Seferoğlu and
• Daria V. Berdnikova

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 228–242, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.23

• , indigo exists in a planar E-form, which is more stable than the overcrowded and non-planar Z-form (Figure 6a) [23]. Irradiation of E-indigo, however, does not result in the photoisomerization into the Z-form due to the rapid proton transfer occurring in the excited state (ESPT) from the N atom towards

• the O atom (Figure 6b). Moreover, the data of the first systematic computational ab initio study of the molecular mechanism of the photostability of indigo [36] support these findings and additionally point out that the single proton transfer (SPT) is more favorable than the double proton transfer

• compounds [66]. It was shown that despite the prerequisites for the occurrence of the excited-state proton transfer, monoarylated indigos underwent E–Z photoisomerization upon red-light irradiation at 625 nm. Remarkably, the thermal half-life of the Z-isomer of compound 20b was sensitive to the presence of

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of 3,3-difluoro-3H-indoles

• Yumei Wang,
• Guangzhu Wang,
• Yanping Zhu and
• Kaiwu Dong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 205–211, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.20

• . The CPA catalyst is regenerated from salt B through proton transfer. We deduced that the steric repulsion between the bulky 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl-substitutents in the chiral phosphoric acid CPA-6 and the carboxylic ester group of the Hantzsch ester hydrogen donor contribute to the high

Using the phospha-Michael reaction for making phosphonium phenolate zwitterions

• Matthias R. Steiner,
• Max Schmallegger,
• Larissa Donner,
• Johann A. Hlina,
• Christoph Marschner,
• Judith Baumgartner and
• Christian Slugovc

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 41–51, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.6

• and exhibit a negative solvatochromism. An analysis of the kinetics of the zwitterion formation was performed for three Michael acceptors (acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and acrylamide) in two different solvents (chloroform and methanol). The results revealed the proton transfer step necessary to

• stabilize the initially formed carbanion as the rate-determining step. A preorganization of the carbonyl bearing Michael acceptors allowed for reasonable fast direct proton transfer from the phenol in aprotic solvents. In contrast, acrylonitrile, not capable of forming a similar preorganization, is hardly

• product of interest 2a. Compound 2a was identified by a combination of NMR spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis (vide infra) as the zwitterionic phospha-Michael adduct of 1 and acrylonitrile, formally stabilized by proton transfer from the phenol group to the initially formed

Recent advancements in iodide/phosphine-mediated photoredox radical reactions

• Tinglan Liu,
• Yu Zhou,
• Junhong Tang and
• Chengming Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1785–1803, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.131

• facilitated by the process of photoexcited radical decarboxylation. On the other hand, the copper catalytic cycle involved the capture of alkyl radicals by the copper complex B, the activation of heteroatom-containing substrates 30 by a base-mediated proton transfer, and the subsequent reductive elimination

Unprecedented synthesis of a 14-membered hexaazamacrocycle

• Anastasia A. Fesenko and
• Anatoly D. Shutalev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1728–1740, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.126

• the most electrophilic C2 carbon of the pyrimidine ring in 8 to give intermediate A. Cleavage of the C2–N3 bond in the latter followed by proton transfer in the formed zwitterion B affords bis-amidrazone C. Next, two molecules of bis-amidrazone C react with each other forming adduct D, which either

Exploring the role of halogen bonding in iodonium ylides: insights into unexpected reactivity and reaction control

• Carlee A. Montgomery and
• Graham K. Murphy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1171–1190, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.86

• proposed that electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex 36 was initially formed between 32 and a sacrificial equivalent of 31, and that 36 underwent a SET to give radical anion 37 and radical cation 38 (Figure 8). While one equivalent of the ylide orchestrated a series of proton transfer (PT) and SET events

Photoredox catalysis harvesting multiple photon or electrochemical energies

• Mattia Lepori,
• Simon Schmid and
• Joshua P. Barham

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1055–1145, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.81

• ). Nucleophilic addition of the amine to the acyl radical and amine-assisted intermolecular proton transfer [84] generates the α-hydroxy radical 24 from which formation of the amide 25 proceeds either via i) oxidation by [Ir2]+ and deprotonation or ii) radical chain propagation [85]. Electron-deficient, electron

Synthesis of imidazo[4,5-e][1,3]thiazino[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazines via a base-induced rearrangement of functionalized imidazo[4,5-e]thiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazines

• Dmitry B. Vinogradov,
• Alexei N. Izmest’ev,
• Angelina N. Kravchenko,
• Yuri A. Strelenko and
• Galina A. Gazieva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1047–1054, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.80

• in the thiazine ring leads to the cleavage of the triazine C–N bond. Further proton transfer gives product 9. The structures of the synthesized compounds 3a,b,j and 5a–k,m were confirmed by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. the potassium salts 3c–i,k,m were

Photoredox catalysis enabling decarboxylative radical cyclization of γ,γ-dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) derivatives: formal synthesis of 6,7-secoagroclavine

• Alessio Regni,
• Francesca Bartoccini and
• Giovanni Piersanti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 918–927, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.70

• position via a sequential electron transfer–proton transfer (ET/PT) [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. With our ongoing interest of establishing new methods for the asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic tryptophan derivatives as well as their associated indole alkaloid natural products [60][61][62][63

• proton transfer from the oxidized indole radical cation [75], generated by SET from the activated photocatalyst. The α-amino radical generated by reductive decarboxylation of a DMAT derivative with a redox-active ester (−1.26 V to −1.37 V vs a saturated calomel electrode) would enable turnover of the

• a tentative mechanism (Figure 2). First, the radical cation I was generated via the oxidation of indole 5 by the excited Ir-based photocatalyst, followed by sequential regioselective proton transfer on the benzylic dimethylallyl unit C–H bond of the C4 side-chain, thereby generating II. Here, the