Photomechanochemistry: harnessing mechanical forces to enhance photochemical reactions

• Francesco Mele,
• Ana M. Constantin,
• Andrea Porcheddu,
• Raimondo Maggi,
• Giovanni Maestri,
• Nicola Della Ca’ and
• Luca Capaldo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 458–472, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.33

• mechanistic scenario than that operating in solution [71], where photogenerated thiyl radicals proved crucial intermediates. Parallelly, Hernández reported a photomechanochemical approach for the borylation of aryldiazonium salts in a ball milling apparatus equipped with a transparent polymethylmethacrylate

Red light excitation: illuminating photocatalysis in a new spectrum

• Lucas Fortier,
• Corentin Lefebvre and
• Norbert Hoffmann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 296–326, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.22

• the substrate, an activated ester 25, subsequently generating carbon-centered radicals without the need for sacrificial electron donors via a decarboxylation process. In reacting with electron-deficient alkenes or alkynes 26, these radicals further yield tetralin and dialin moieties 27, respectively

• detail, and the authors have proposed that the reaction proceeds through a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism (Scheme 11). Upon red-light excitation, chlorophyll generates superoxide anion radicals (O2•−) in the presence of oxygen, which act as the active oxidant to convert organoborons 31 to

• reactions with nucleophiles like malonates, cyanides, and phosphites. The study further revealed that the radicals generated from these processes can be successfully utilized in dual catalysis with copper, yielding a variety of alkynylated products (Figure 11) [65]. Compound 46 has been shown to exhibit

Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed multicomponent reactions

• Sara Colombo,
• Camilla Loro,
• Egle M. Beccalli,
• Gianluigi Broggini and
• Marta Papis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 122–145, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.7

• to multiple C–C bonds generates extended carbon radicals capable of giving further functionalization. Regarding the ionic mechanism, the key step generally comprises the complexation with the unsaturated substrate leading to activation of the alkenyl/alkynyl moiety towards a nucleophilic attack. In

Reactivity of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents bearing a benzylamine with sulfenate salts

• Beatriz Dedeiras,
• Catarina S. Caldeira,
• José C. Cunha,
• Clara S. B. Gomes and
• M. Manuel B. Marques

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3281–3289, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.272

• groups (V), which proved to be useful in the transfer of imine radicals [17]. Bolm et al. contributed also to this topic by introducing a sulfoximidoyl-containing benziodoxolone (VI) [18]. Recently, our group disclosed the first HIRs bearing a primary amine moiety, the benzylamine benziodoxolone reagent

Giese-type alkylation of dehydroalanine derivatives via silane-mediated alkyl bromide activation

• Perry van der Heide,
• Michele Retini,
• Fabiola Fanini,
• Giovanni Piersanti,
• Francesco Secci,
• Daniele Mazzarella,
• Timothy Noël and
• Alberto Luridiana

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3274–3280, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.271

• building blocks like organohalides can be converted into alkyl radicals by means of photoinduced silane-mediated halogen-atom transfer (XAT) to offer a mild and straightforward methodology of alkylation. In this research, we present a metal-free strategy for the photochemical alkylation of dehydroalanine

• , alkyl radicals have been produced from alkyl halides, using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator, promoting a tin-mediated XAT (Figure 1a) [8][9]. However, tin-based compounds are highly toxic and require harsh conditions for the initiation event. Fortunately, a renaissance in the field of

• photochemistry has introduced new ways of generating radicals like photoredox catalysis and via electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes [10][11][12][13]. These advances, coupled with modern electrochemical methods, chemical reactor engineering and light emitting diodes (LED), have eliminated the need for thermal

Controlled oligomerization of [1.1.1]propellane through radical polarity matching: selective synthesis of SF₅- and CF₃SF₄-containing [2]staffanes

• Jón Atiba Buldt,
• Wang-Yeuk Kong,
• Yannick Kraemer,
• Masiel M. Belsuzarri,
• Ansh Hiten Patel,
• James C. Fettinger,
• Dean J. Tantillo and
• Cody Ross Pitts

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3134–3143, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.259

• in the absence of light. Note that recent work from the laboratories of Cahard and Bizet [50] suggests that autoxidation of the ethereal solvent could serve as one possible explanation for initial formation of SF5 radicals in the absence of light to initiate a radical chain reaction. It is also well

• , the carbon-centered radicals in both INT1 and INT4 are closer to strong electron-withdrawing groups than are the radical centers in INT2 and INT5, rendering INT1 and INT4 relatively more electrophilic. Inductive effects drop off steeply with distance, and it is also established that a substituent (or

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

• of enol acetates with aryldiazonium salts [93]. The excitation of the porphyrin macrocycles by light irradiation initiated the catalytic cycle, generating aryl radicals from the diazonium salts, similar to findings by Gryko and co-workers. They explored both batch and continuous-flow photocatalysis

• resulted in the formation of the product in 60–89% yields and 24–81% yields for 18 and 78, respectively, confirming that even the less energetic red light is sufficient to generate aryl radicals via single-electron transfer (SET) from the excited porphyrin to aryldiazonium salt 79 (Figure 16). Further

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

• Kharasch–Sosnovsky peroxidation became the basic universal platform for the development of peroxidation methods, with its great potential for rapid generation of complexity due to the ability to couple the resulting free radicals with a wide range of partners. This review discusses the recent advances in

• peroxides, oxaziridines, and their derived species are often applied as terminal oxidants [7][8]. The weakness of the O–O bond allows alkoxy radicals to form through homolysis or reduction [9]. The generated alkoxy radicals provide an accessible tool for selective radical cascades, where a variety of

• functional groups can be functionalized for any synthetic need via HAT or β-scission with subsequent C-centered radical formation [10][11][12][13]. Also, peroxy radicals play a key role in the chemistry of the Earth's lower atmosphere [14][15][16]. The traditional approaches to organic peroxide synthesis

Recent advances in transition-metal-free arylation reactions involving hypervalent iodine salts

• Ritu Mamgain,
• Kokila Sakthivel and
• Fateh V. Singh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2891–2920, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.243

• efficiency and effectiveness as a synthetic approach. Furthermore, a transition-metal-free arylation of quinoxalines 17 and quinoxalinones 19 via aryl radicals was discussed by Li and co-workers in 2022. In this report the aryl radicals were generated by planetary ball milling of diaryliodonium salts 16 at a

• assist in the deprotonation of intermediate II to produce final products 27, while K2S2O8 aids in the oxidation of the photocatalyst in the case of pyridine N-oxide. In another photoinduced reaction procedure, Murarka et al. reported the formation of aryl radicals from a tetrameric electron donor

• and diphenyliodonium triflates 16 using an optimal sulfur dioxide surrogate, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(sulfur dioxide) (DABSO, Scheme 13). The Z-isomer of the desired products was obtained by optimizing the reaction conditions. The involvement of radicals in both the arylation and aryl

Interaction of a pyrene derivative with cationic [60]fullerene in phospholipid membranes and its effects on photodynamic actions

• Hayato Takagi,
• Çetin Çelik,
• Ryosuke Fukuda,
• Qi Guo,
• Tomohiro Higashino,
• Hiroshi Imahori,
• Yoko Yamakoshi and
• Tatsuya Murakami

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2732–2738, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.231

• blue LED lamp. (iii) catC60 5 µM, PyBA 67 µM, NADH 8 mM, Fe(II)-DETAPAC 1 mM, and DMPO 100 mM in PBS(–) under irradiation for 30 min by blue LED lamp. (c) X-band ESR spectra of 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrrolidone-N-oxide (DEPMPO) adduct with undefined radicals (i, ii) or •CH3 (iii, iv

Transition-metal-free decarbonylation–oxidation of 3-arylbenzofuran-2(3H)-ones: access to 2-hydroxybenzophenones

• Bhaskar B. Dhotare,
• Seema V. Kanojia,
• Chahna K. Sakhiya,
• Amey Wadawale and
• Dibakar Goswami

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2655–2667, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.223

• enolization of benzofuranone 3 in the presence of a base produced intermediate A. The latter reacted with hydroperoxide to form B with the concomitant generation of the radicals, which further reacted with intermediate B to form intermediate C. Finally, C is hydrolysed with the release of one molecule CO2 and

Efficient modification of peroxydisulfate oxidation reactions of nitrogen-containing heterocycles 6-methyluracil and pyridine

• Alfiya R. Gimadieva,
• Yuliya Z. Khazimullina,
• Aigiza A. Gilimkhanova and
• Akhat G. Mustafin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2599–2607, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.219

• peroxydisulfate ion, leading to the production of oxygen [39]: Oxygen accumulation is additionally achieved by hydrogen peroxide self-decay, which is known to be increased in alkaline conditions [40]: Additionally, it has been reported [41] that hydroxyl radicals, produced from the decomposition of H2O2, can

• generate sulfate anion radicals (SO4•−) [42] during their interaction with sulfate anions. This reaction occurs at a significant rate (k = 3.1∙108 min−1) [43] and leads to the recombination of peroxydisulfate in the reaction mixture. It has been demonstrated that the efficiency of peroxydisulfate

Transition-metal-free synthesis of arylboronates via thermal generation of aryl radicals from triarylbismuthines in air

• Yuki Yamamoto,
• Yuki Konakazawa,
• Kohsuke Fujiwara and
• Akiya Ogawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2577–2584, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.216

• under transition-metal-free and open-air conditions. Conventional methods required photoirradiation or electrolysis to generate aryl radicals from triarylbismuthines. In this study, it was found that simply heating the solution of triarylbismuthines in benzotrifluoride (BTF) in air successfully led to

• the generation of aryl radicals, and the subsequent reaction with bis(pinacolato)diboron afforded a variety of arylboronates in moderate to good yields. Keywords: arylboronates; bis(pinacolato)diboron; radical reactions; transition-metal-free synthesis; triarylbismuthines; Introduction Arylboronates

• diborons can capture the in situ-generated carbon-centered radicals [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Among the aryl sources in organic synthesis, triarylbismuthines are shelf-stable and easy-to-handle reagents with appropriate reactivities in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions and radical reactions

A review of recent advances in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical late-stage functionalization classified by anodic oxidation, cathodic reduction, and paired electrolysis

• Nian Li,
• Ruzal Sitdikov,
• Ajit Prabhakar Kale,
• Joost Steverlynck,
• Bo Li and
• Magnus Rueping

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2500–2566, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.214

• functionalization method where primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals can be readily generated through the sequential anodic oxidative fragmentation of alkyl carbazates, enabling the functionalization of N-heteroarenes [7]. This transformation is particularly valuable as the cleavage of the C–O bond to

• sulfamidyl radicals via a concerted proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). This process occurs after the formation of a hydrogen bond between dibenzenesulfonimide and n-Bu4NOAc. The formed sulfamidyl radical can directly react with the (hetero)aromatic ring. Subsequent anodic oxidation produces a

• including ibuprofen, febuxostat, and gemfibrozil, achieving moderate to good yields. The proposed mechanism involves the oxidation and deprotonation of NHPI at the cathode to form phthalimide-N-oxyl (PINO) radicals. These PINO radicals act as HAT reagents, abstracting a hydrogen atom from the Si–H bond of

Photoredox-catalyzed intramolecular nucleophilic amidation of alkenes with β-lactams

• Valentina Giraldi,
• Giandomenico Magagnano,
• Daria Giacomini,
• Pier Giorgio Cozzi and
• Andrea Gualandi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2461–2468, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.210

• ; Introduction Access to nitrogen radicals for the functionalization of alkenes is a field under active investigation [1][2][3][4], as it gives the possibility to directly introduce nitrogen into an alkyl chain (alkene carboamination) to obtain valuable nitrogen-containing molecules [5][6]. Among several N

• -centered radicals, such as aminyl, amidyl, or iminyl radicals, N-heterocyclic amidyl radicals were largely underinvestigated despite their importance as intermediates or relevant N-heterocyclic products in medicinal chemistry [7][8][9][10]. Recently, photoredox catalysis has emerged as a novel area of

• -amidyl radicals uses activated N–O amide derivatives capable of generating amidyl radicals through fragmentation [18][19]. The direct formation of amidyl radicals in the presence of a carbon alkyl chain could lead to a competitive 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (1,5-HAT) [20][21][22], limiting the direct

Synthesis, electrochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of sterically hindered catechols with 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-triazole, thiazole or pyridine fragments

• Daria A. Burmistrova,
• Andrey Galustyan,
• Nadezhda P. Pomortseva,
• Kristina D. Pashaeva,
• Maxim V. Arsenyev,
• Oleg P. Demidov,
• Mikhail A. Kiskin,
• Andrey I. Poddel’sky,
• Nadezhda T. Berberova and
• Ivan V. Smolyaninov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2378–2391, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.202

• antioxidant properties were determined using the reaction with synthetic radicals, the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assay, the inhibition process of superoxide radical anion formation by xanthine oxidase, and the process of lipid peroxidation of rat liver (Wistar) homogenates in vitro. Keywords

Synthesis and reactivity of the di(9-anthryl)methyl radical

• Tomohiko Nishiuchi,
• Kazuma Takahashi,
• Yuta Makihara and
• Takashi Kubo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2254–2260, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.193

• . Keywords: anthracene; cation; dimerization; radical; reactivity; Introduction Organic radicals have garnered significant attention in various research fields, including catalysis [1][2][3][4], chromophores [5][6][7][8], and as agents in dynamic nuclear polarization [9][10][11][12]. Recently, highly stable

• aromatic hydrocarbon radicals, which can persist in air-saturated solutions for several days to months, have been synthesized by employing bulky substituents around the spin-localized carbon center [13][14][15]. These stable radicals have paved the way to elucidate the nature of radical species, advancing

• the field of radical chemistry. However, reducing the reactivity of radical species can mean losing one of their most attractive properties. Therefore, it is very important to explore aromatic hydrocarbon radicals that are sufficiently stable for handling, yet reactive under specific conditions

Natural resorcylic lactones derived from alternariol

• Joachim Podlech

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2171–2207, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.187

• -picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH; IC50: 9.6 μM) and hydroxyl radicals (scavenging activity of 70% and 91% at 0.05 and 0.27 μg/mL, respectively) [169][176]. Furthermore, it turned out to be cytotoxic against SW1116 cells (IC50: 9.5 μg/mL) [168]. The trimethyl ether of 4-hydroxyalternariol was named ‘graphislactone H

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis

• Akiya Ogawa and
• Yuki Yamamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2114–2128, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.182

• is a promising synthetic reagent not only as a one-carbon homologation reagent but also as a nitrogen source for nitrogen-containing molecules. Because of their isoelectronic structure with carbon monoxide, isocyanides also react with nucleophiles, electrophiles, carbon radicals, and transition metal

• reagents, and are widely used in organic synthesis. On the other hand, the use of isocyanides in reactions with heteroatom radicals is limited. However, the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals is a promising synthetic tool for the construction of nitrogen-containing organic molecules modified

• with a variety of heteroatoms. In this Perspective, we review the addition and cyclization reactions of heteroatom radicals with isocyanides and discuss the synthetic prospects of the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals. Keywords: aza-Bergman cyclization; heteroatom-mixed system; imidoyl

Multicomponent syntheses of pyrazoles via (3 + 2)-cyclocondensation and (3 + 2)-cycloaddition key steps

• Ignaz Betcke,
• Alissa C. Götzinger,
• Maryna M. Kornet and
• Thomas J. J. Müller

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2024–2077, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.178

Understanding X-ray-induced isomerisation in photoswitchable surfactant assemblies

• Beatrice E. Jones,
• Camille Blayo,
• Jake L. Greenfield,
• Matthew J. Fuchter,
• Nathan Cowieson and
• Rachel C. Evans

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2005–2015, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.176

• lipid tail length in the Z isomer [26]. Notably, these authors observed that the X-rays themselves also induced Z–E isomerisation in Azo-lipids, which they attributed to the X-ray radiolysis of water, which produces radicals and reactive species that can catalyse Z–E conversion [27]. This effect was

Harnessing the versatility of hydrazones through electrosynthetic oxidative transformations

• Aurélie Claraz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1988–2004, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.175

• aldehyde-derived N,N-dialkylhydrazones 123 under constant current with two carbon electrodes. Aromatic and aliphatic sodium sulfinates 124 were employed as sources of sulfinate radicals under electrolyte-free reaction conditions. The targeted product was obtained in high yield regardless of the electronic

Development of a flow photochemical process for a π-Lewis acidic metal-catalyzed cyclization/radical addition sequence: in situ-generated 2-benzopyrylium as photoredox catalyst and reactive intermediate

• Masahiro Terada,
• Zen Iwasaki,
• Ryohei Yazaki,
• Shigenobu Umemiya and
• Jun Kikuchi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1973–1980, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.173

• , initiating further radical reactions through the formation of radical cations B. Nucleophilic arylmethyl radicals C, which are generated from radical cations B by desilylation, undergo an addition reaction with 2-benzopyrylium intermediates A, giving rise to the corresponding radical cation. Catalytic cycle

Radical reactivity of antiaromatic Ni(II) norcorroles with azo radical initiators

• Siham Asyiqin Shafie,
• Ryo Nozawa,
• Hideaki Takano and
• Hiroshi Shinokubo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1967–1972, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.172

• radicals derived from azo radical initiators. The radical selectively attacked the distal α-position relative to the meso-position to construct a nonaromatic bowl-shaped structure. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the obtained radical adducts were compared to those of the parent Ni(II

• subsequent demetallation. Conclusion In conclusion, we have investigated the addition reaction of electrophilic alkyl radicals derived from azo radical initiators to antiaromatic Ni(II) norcorroles. The reaction smoothly proceeded to afford bowl-shaped nonconjugated macrocycles 2a in excellent yield, which

Novel oxidative routes to N-arylpyridoindazolium salts

• Oleg A. Levitskiy,
• Yuri K. Grishin and
• Tatiana V. Magdesieva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1906–1913, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.166

• TsONa as a supporting electrolyte. As follows from Figure 3, the tertiary amine is inappropriate due to its too anodic oxidation potential whereas the two nitroxide radicals might be suitable. Indeed, an increase in the oxidation current of a mediator was observed in both cases after A3 has been added

• formed in oxidation. Since oxidation occurs in the bulk and the potential of the mediator is insufficient for the further oxidation of the electrophilic CF3-substituted diarylaminyl radicals to the corresponding cations, the N–N coupling of thus formed aminyl radicals dominates over the intramolecular