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Search for "alkylation" in Full Text gives 650 result(s) in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. Showing first 200.
Recent advances in total synthesis of illisimonin A
- Juan Huang and
- Ming Yang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2571–2583, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.199
- of 85 with iodine and BnOH enabled the intermolecular iodoetherification to yield ketal 86. A KF-promoted intramolecular alkylation of the cyclopentadiene moiety then delivered compound 87. To introduce the C4 hydroxy group and C1 functional handle for further elaboration, a nitroso-Diels–Alder
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: The categorization of Illicium sesquiterpenes and representative natural products.
Figure 2: The original assigned (−)-illisimonin A, revised (−)-illisimonin A, and their different draws.
Scheme 1: Proposed biosynthetic pathway of illisimonin A by Yu et al.
Scheme 2: Rychnovsky’s racemic synthesis of illisimonin A (1).
Scheme 3: The absolute configuration revision of (−)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 4: Kalesse’s asymmetric synthesis of (−)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 5: Yang group proposed biosynthetic pathway of illisimonin A.
Scheme 6: Yang’s bioinspired synthesis of illisimonin A.
Scheme 7: Dai’s asymmetric synthesis of (–)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 8: Lu’s total synthesis of illisimonin A.
Scheme 9: Initial efforts toward the total synthesis of illisimonin A by the Lu Group.
Scheme 10: Suzuki’s synthetic effort towards illisimonin A.
Assembly strategy for thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes via a disulfide intermediate derived from 3-nitrothiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate
- Roman A. Irgashev
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2489–2497, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.191
- -dicarboxylates by its one-pot reduction–alkylation using NaBH4 in DMF followed by an alkylating agent. Base-promoted cyclization of electron-deficient 3-alkylthio derivatives furnished 2-aryl-, 2-aroyl-, and 2-cyano-substituted thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes, bearing a 3-hydroxy group. This protocol broadens access to
- ]. In route IV, cleavage of the ethyl xanthate group in the starting substrate by NaOMe generates a thiolate intermediate, which undergoes S-alkylation and subsequent NaOMe-promoted cyclization to afford the 3-hydroxy-TT [28]. In our recent works, it was presented an effective strategy for synthesizing
- -alkylation and base-promoted cyclization to form the 3-hydroxy-TT molecules (Scheme 2). Results and Discussion We began our study by investigating the reaction of dimethyl 3-nitrothiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate (1) with Na2S, inspired by Beck’s reported synthesis of 2-substituted-3-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes via
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: The synthetic routes to 3-hydroxy-substituted TT derivatives.
Scheme 2: The present retrosynthetic plan for constructing TT molecules.
Scheme 3: An attempt to nucleophilically substitute the NO2 group in ester 1.
Scheme 4: The reaction of ester 1 with potassium thioacetate.
Scheme 5: A probable mechanism for the formation of compounds 2 and 3.
Scheme 6: The synthesis of 3-(alkylthio)thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylates 4–6, yields, and scope of products. *Fro...
Scheme 7: The synthesis of TT derivatives, yields, and scope of products. Conditions: i) LiH (5 equiv), DMF, ...
Transformation of the cyclohexane ring to the cyclopentane fragment of biologically active compounds
- Natalya Akhmetdinova,
- Ilgiz Biktagirov and
- Liliya Kh. Faizullina
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2416–2446, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.185
- -ketoxime 45 by Grignard reduction alkylation, followed by a Beckmann fragmentation of the C2–C3 bond of the intermediate 3-ethyl-substituted hydroxyimino ketone in the SOCl2-CH2Cl2 system. The introduction of a carbonyl substituent into the isopropylidene fragment of ketone 46 was achieved either by
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of echinopine A (3).
Scheme 2: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinoids 7–12.
Figure 1: Iridoid skeleton.
Scheme 3: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of compounds 17a,b, 18 and 19 with iridoid topolog...
Scheme 4: Oxidation–aldol condensation sequence in the synthesis of compounds 21 and 23 with iridoid topology....
Scheme 5: Oxidation–aldol condensation sequence in the synthesis of compounds 29 and 30 with iridoid topology....
Scheme 6: Method for ring contraction in the absence of a double bond in a six-membered ring of triterpenoids....
Scheme 7: Oxidation–Dieckmann cyclization sequence in the synthesis of a new nortriterpenoid 39.
Scheme 8: Oxidation–Dieckmann cyclization sequence in the synthesis of 18,19-di-nor-cholesterol (40).
Scheme 9: Oxidation–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of 3-ethyl-substituted betulinic acid derivatives 49...
Scheme 10: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of 4β-acetoxyprobotryane-9β,15α-diol (52).
Scheme 11: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of (−)-taiwaniaquinone H (11).
Scheme 12: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of dactylicapnosines A (63) and B (64).
Scheme 13: Aza-benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of (+)-stephadiamine (71).
Scheme 14: α-Ketol rearrangement in the synthesis of saffloneoside (73).
Scheme 15: Conversion of (−)-preaustinoid A (80) to (−)-preaustinoid B (81) via α-ketol rearrangement.
Scheme 16: α-Ketol rearrangement in the synthesis of 2,8-oxymethano-bridged diquinane 90.
Scheme 17: Oxidative ring contraction during the synthesis of (+)-cuparene (91) and (+)-tochuinylacetate (92).
Scheme 18: Semipinacol rearrangement in the synthesis of diterpenoids 97–100.
Scheme 19: Co-catalyzed homoallyl-type rearrangement in the syntheses of meroterpenes 106–109.
Scheme 20: Ring contraction reaction promoted by TTN·3H2O and HTIB in the synthesis of indanes.
Scheme 21: Rearrangement involving a hypervalent iodine compound in the synthesis of derivative 120.
Scheme 22: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinones A (7), F (8), taiwaniaquinols B (10), D (1...
Scheme 23: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of cheloviolene C (128), seconorrisolide B (129), and seconorr...
Scheme 24: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of (−)-pavidolide B (134).
Scheme 25: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of presilphiperfolan-8-ol (141).
Scheme 26: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cyclopentane derivatives 147a,b.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of cyclopentane derivatives 147a and 151.
Scheme 28: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cyclopentane derivative 153.
Scheme 29: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of tricyclic ketones 155, 156.
Scheme 30: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cis/trans salts 160.
Figure 2: Scope of the photoinduced carboborative ring contraction of steroids. Reaction conditions: steroid ...
Scheme 31: Photoinduced carboborative ring contraction in the synthesis of artalbic acid (180).
Scheme 32: Synthetic versatility of the photoinduced carboborative ring contraction.
Scheme 33: Methods of disclosure of epoxide 189.
Scheme 34: Methods of disclosure of epoxide 190.
Scheme 35: Rearrangement of α,β-epoxy ketone 197.
Scheme 36: Acid-induced rearrangement in the synthesis of perhydrindane ketones 202 and 205.
Scheme 37: Rearrangement of epoxyketone 208 in the synthesis of huperzine Q (206).
Scheme 38: Rearrangement of epoxide 212 under the action of Grignard reagent.
Scheme 39: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 220 in the synthesis of (−)-citrinadin A (217) and (+)-citrina...
Scheme 40: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 225 in the synthesis of hamigeran G (223).
Scheme 41: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 231 in the synthesis of (−)-spirochensilide A (228).
Scheme 42: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 234 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 43: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 238 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 44: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 241 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 45: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of lupane derivatives 245, 246, 248, and 249.
Scheme 46: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of weisaconitine D (252) and cardiopetaline (255).
Scheme 47: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of cardiopetaline (255).
Synthetic study toward vibralactone
- Liang Shi,
- Jiayi Song,
- Yiqing Li,
- Jia-Chen Li,
- Shuqi Li,
- Li Ren,
- Zhi-Yun Liu and
- Hong-Dong Hao
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2376–2382, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.182
- and ClpP2 and it could be utilized as a probe to study the activity and structure of the ClpP1P2 complex from Listeria monocytogenes [25]. Previously, Snider and co-worker reported the first total synthesis of vibralactone (6) employing Birch reductive alkylation, intramolecular aldol reaction and
- late-stage lactonization as key steps [26] (Scheme 1). Subsequently, they achieved the asymmetric synthesis of vibralactone (6) based on the asymmetric Birch reduction–alkylation methodology developed by the Schultz group [27][28]. In 2016, Brown and co-workers described an efficient synthetic route
- single step from commercially available fructone [38] (Scheme 3). Following an efficient O-trimethylsilylquinine-catalyzed ketene–aldehyde cycloaddition and subsequent alkylation [36], 17 was synthesized. From 17, it was envisioned that the bicyclic skeleton could be efficiently constructed through ketal
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Selected representative natural products and derivatives with β-lactone moiety.
Scheme 1: Previous syntheses of vibralactone (6).
Scheme 2: Retrosynthetic analysis of vibralactone (6).
Scheme 3: Synthetic study toward vibralactone (6) in the present of β-lactone.
Scheme 4: C–H insertion utilizing linear precursor 19.
Scheme 5: Construction the bicyclic skeleton of vibralactone (6) through C–H insertion.
Conformational effects on iodide binding: a comparative study of flexible and rigid carbazole macrocyclic analogs
- Guang-Wei Zhang,
- Yong Zhang,
- Le Shi,
- Chuang Gao,
- Hong-Yu Li and
- Lei Xue
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2369–2375, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.181
- . Experimental PBG (CCDC Number: 2070280) and WDG were synthesized from phenyl- and fluorenyl-substituted precursors, respectively, via Friedel–Crafts alkylation (Scheme 1) according to our previous work [22]. Structural characterization was performed using 1H NMR (Figures S1 and S2) and mass spectrometry
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Synthesis routes of PBG and WDG.
Figure 1: (a) partial 1H NMR spectrum of PBG in CDCl3 (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C), (b) Partial 1H NMR spectrum of ...
Figure 2: (a) Partial 1H NMR spectra of PBG and TBAI at different equivalent concentrations in CDCl3 (400 MHz...
Figure 3: (a) UV–vis spectra of PBG (10 μM) in CHCl3 with TBAI concentration, (b) UV–vis spectra of WDG (10 μ...
Recent advances in Norrish–Yang cyclization and dicarbonyl photoredox reactions for natural product synthesis
- Peng-Xi Luo,
- Jin-Xuan Yang,
- Shao-Min Fu and
- Bo Liu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2315–2333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.177
- , followed by diastereoselective α-alkylation, produced 38. A Wittig reaction and subsequent deketalization converted the ketone in 38 to the terminal alkene 39, allowing for subsequent sequential chemoselective hydrogenations: first, hydrogenation of the exo-olefin using Wilkinson’s catalyst proceeded with
- intramolecular aldehyde α-alkylation using MacMillan's protocol, subsequently undergoing Shi's asymmetric epoxidation to give rise to epoxide 60 as a 3:1 mixture of diastereomers. These were not separated until step 8 due to poor separability at this stage. Concurrently, diosgenin was then processed through a
- – was prepared from (+)-pulegone (77) through a six-step manipulation involving epoxidation, epoxide opening with sodium thiophenolate and subsequent concomitant retro-aldol, sulfoxidation, a one pot α-alkylation with acrylonitrile proceeding to thermal syn-elimination of phenylsulfenic acid, ketone
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: a) The mechanism of Norrish type II reaction and Norrish–Yang cyclization; b) The mechanism of the ...
Scheme 2: Total synthesis of (+)-cyclobutastellettolide B.
Scheme 3: Norrish–Yang cyclization and 1,2-methyl migration.
Scheme 4: Synthetic study toward phainanoids.
Scheme 5: a) Mitsunobu reaction of the C9 ketal; b) Norrish–Yang cyclization of the saturated C5–C6; c) calcu...
Scheme 6: Total synthesis of avarane-type meroterpenoids.
Scheme 7: Total synthesis of gracilisoid A.
Scheme 8: Divergent total synthesis of gracilisoids B–I.
Scheme 9: Mechanism of the late-stage biomimetic photooxidation.
Scheme 10: Asymmetric total synthesis of lycoplatyrine A.
Scheme 11: Photoreaction of pyrrolidine-derived phenyl keto amide.
Scheme 12: Photoredox reactions of naphthoquinones.
Scheme 13: Synthetic study toward γ-rubromycin.
Scheme 14: Substituent-dependent conformational preferences.
Scheme 15: Total synthesis of preussomerins EG1, EG2, and EG3.
Enantioselective radical chemistry: a bright future ahead
- Anna C. Renner,
- Sagar S. Thorat,
- Hariharaputhiran Subramanian and
- Mukund P. Sibi
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2283–2296, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.174
- demonstrated to forge C(sp2)–C(sp2) as well as aliphatic C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds. The Fu group reported a nickel-catalyzed α-alkylation of racemic secondary α-bromoamides 18 using organozinc reagents 19 (Scheme 4A) [32]. A chiral nickel complex, obtained from the mixture of chiral pyridinebisoxazoline ligand L2
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Methods of radical generation (A) and general types of radical reactions (B).
Figure 2: Chiral catalysis in enantioselective radical chemistry [13-37].
Scheme 1: Diastereo- and enantioselective additions of nucleophilic radicals to N-enoyloxazolidinone and pyrr...
Scheme 2: Organocatalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions affording substituted pyrrolidines.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of a hexacyclic compound via an organocatalyzed enantioselective polyene cyclization.
Scheme 4: Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling reactions.
Scheme 5: Chiral cobalt–porphyrin metalloradical-catalyzed radical cyclization reactions.
Scheme 6: Enantioselective radical chaperone catalysis.
Scheme 7: Enantioselective radical addition by decatungstate/iminium catalysis.
Scheme 8: An ene-reductase-catalyzed photoenzymatic enantioselective radical cyclization/enantioselective HAT...
Scheme 9: Photoenzymatic oxidative C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling reactions between organoboron compounds and amino a...
Scheme 10: Electrochemical α-alkenylation reactions of 2-acylimidazoles catalyzed by a chiral-at-rhodium Lewis...
Scheme 11: Regio- and enantioselective electrochemical reactions of silyl polyenolates catalyzed by a chiral n...
Pathway economy in cyclization of 1,n-enynes
- Hezhen Han,
- Wenjie Mao,
- Bin Lin,
- Maosheng Cheng,
- Lu Yang and
- Yongxiang Liu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2260–2282, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.173
- cyclopropanation of 1,6-enyne initiated a cascade involving 1,5-enyne addition, consecutive 1,2-alkyl migrations, and Friedel–Crafts alkylation, efficiently constructing the pentacyclic fused benzofuran framework 21 (Scheme 5, path b). Above two analogues were prepared on a gram scale, converted into valuable
- /AgSbF6 system, ultimately resulting in the formation of dihydrobenzo[a]fluorenes 123 via Friedel–Crafts alkylation (Scheme 25, path b). In 2018, the Shi research group developed an innovative intramolecular cyclization strategy using 1,6-enynes as substrates for the synthesis of 1,2-dihydroquinoline
- occurred, followed by an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation, ultimately resulting in the assembly of product 136 (Scheme 28, path a). Notably, a systematic screening of transition-metal catalysts revealed that structurally distinct products were obtainable from the same substrate under gold catalysis
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Economical synthesis and pathway economy.
Scheme 2: Au(I)-catalyzed cascade cyclization paths of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 3: Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization paths of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 4: I2/TBHP-mediated radical cycloisomerization paths of 1,n-enyne.
Scheme 5: Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization paths of 3-allyloxy-1,6-diynes.
Scheme 6: Pd(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization paths of 2-alkynylbenzoate-cyclohexadienone.
Scheme 7: Stereoselective cyclization of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 8: Substituent-controlled cycloisomerization of propargyl vinyl ethers.
Scheme 9: Au(I)-catalyzed pathway-controlled domino cyclization of 1,2-diphenylethynes.
Scheme 10: Au(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclo-isomerization of tryptamine-N-ethynylpropiolamide.
Scheme 11: Au(I)-catalyzed tunable cyclization of 1,6-cyclohexenylalkyne.
Scheme 12: Substituent-controlled 7-exo- and 8-endo-dig-selective cyclization of 2-propargylaminobiphenyl deri...
Scheme 13: BiCl3-catalyzed cycloisomerization of tryptamine-ynamide derivatives.
Scheme 14: Au(I)-mediated substituent-controlled cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes.
Scheme 15: Ligand-controlled regioselective cyclization of 1,6-enynes.
Scheme 16: Ligand-dependent cycloisomerization of 1,7-enyne esters.
Scheme 17: Ligand-controlled cycloisomerization of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 18: Ligand-controlled cyclization strategy of alkynylamide tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes.
Scheme 19: Ag(I)-mediated pathway-controlled cycloisomerization of tryptamine-ynamides.
Scheme 20: Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of indoles with alkynes.
Scheme 21: Catalyst-dependent cycloisomerization of dienol silyl ethers.
Scheme 22: Cycloisomerization of aromatic enynes governed by catalyst.
Scheme 23: Catalyst-dependent 1,2-migration in cyclization of 1-(indol-2-yl)-3-alkyn-1-ols.
Scheme 24: Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides.
Scheme 25: Gold(I)-mediated enantioselective cycloisomerizations of ortho-(alkynyl)styrenes.
Scheme 26: Catalyst-controlled intramolecular cyclization of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 27: Brønsted acid-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of tryptamine ynamides.
Scheme 28: Catalyst-controlled cyclization of indolyl homopropargyl amides.
Scheme 29: Angle strain-dominated 6-endo-trig cyclization of propargyl vinyl ethers.
Scheme 30: Angle strain-controlled cycloisomerization of alkyn-tethered indoles.
Scheme 31: Geometrical isomeration-dependent cycloisomerization of 1,3-dien-5-ynes.
Scheme 32: Temperature-controlled cyclization of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 33: Cycloisomerizations of n-(o-ethynylaryl)acrylamides through temperature modulation.
Scheme 34: Temperature-controlled boracyclization of biphenyl-embedded 1,3,5-trien-7-ynes.
C2 to C6 biobased carbonyl platforms for fine chemistry
- Jingjing Jiang,
- Muhammad Noman Haider Tariq,
- Florence Popowycz,
- Yanlong Gu and
- Yves Queneau
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2103–2172, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.165
- –Crafts alkylation products were then converted into an intermediate tryptaldehyde that underwent intramolecular olefination to form the targeted product [34]. Glycolic acid (GA) The growing impact of fossil fuel consumption has heightened the need for advancing renewable energy technologies. One
- oxygen in alcoholic medium has also been reported (Scheme 37) [121][122]. Riguet synthesized γ-lactams through a Ugi 4-center 3-component reaction (U-4C-3CR) protocol. HFO was used as the electrophile in the Friedel–Crafts (FC) alkylation reactions of indole catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether. The
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: C2–C6 biobased carbonyl building blocks.
Scheme 1: Proposed (2 + 2) route to glycolaldehyde and glycolic acid from erythritol by Cu/AC catalyst (AC = ...
Scheme 2: Reductive amination of GCA.
Scheme 3: N-Formylation of secondary amines by reaction with GCA.
Scheme 4: Synthesis and conversion of hydroxy acetals to cyclic acetals.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of 3-(indol-3-yl)-2,3-dihydrofurans via three-component reaction of glycolaldehyde, indol...
Scheme 6: BiCl3-catalyzed synthesis of benzo[a]carbazoles from 2-arylindoles and α-bromoacetaldehyde ethylene...
Scheme 7: Cu/NCNSs-based conversion of glycerol to glycolic acid and other short biobased acids.
Scheme 8: E. coli-based biotransformation of C1 source molecules (CH4, CO2 and CO) towards C2 glycolic acid.
Scheme 9: N-Formylation of amines with C2 (a) or C3 (b) biomass-based feedstocks.
Scheme 10: Methods for the formation of propanoic acid (PA) from lactic acid (LA).
Scheme 11: Co-polymerization of biobased lactic acid and glycolic acid via a bicatalytic process.
Scheme 12: Oxidation of α-hydroxy acids by tetrachloroaurate(III) in acetic acid–sodium acetate buffer medium.
Figure 2: Selective catalytic pathways for the conversion of lactic acid (LA).
Scheme 13: Synthesis of 1,3-PDO via cross-aldol reaction between formaldehyde and acetaldehyde to 3-hydroxypro...
Scheme 14: Hydrothermal conversion of 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propane and 2,3-dihydroxypropanal to methylglyoxal.
Scheme 15: FLS-catalyzed formose reaction to synthesize GA and DHA.
Scheme 16: GCA and DHA oxidation products of glycerol and isomerization of GCA to DHA under flow conditions us...
Scheme 17: Acid-catalyzed reactions of DHA with alcohols.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of dihydroxyacetone phosphate from dihydroxyacetone.
Scheme 19: Bifunctional acid–base catalyst DHA conversion into lactic acid via pyruvaldehyde or fructose forma...
Scheme 20: Catalytic one-pot synthesis of GA and co-synthesis of formamides and formates from DHA.
Scheme 21: (a) Synthesis of furan derivatives and (b) synthesis of thiophene derivative by cascade [3 + 2] ann...
Scheme 22: Brønsted acidic ionic liquid catalyzed synthesis of benzo[a]carbazole from renewable acetol and 2-p...
Scheme 23: Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-hydroxy ketones to 1,2-diols.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of novel 6-(substituted benzylidene)-2-methylthiazolo [2,3-b]oxazol-5(6H)-one from 1-hydr...
Scheme 25: ʟ-Proline-catalyzed synthesis of anti-diols from hydroxyacetone and aldehydes.
Scheme 26: C–C-bond-formation reactions of a biomass-based feedstock aromatic aldehyde (C5) and hydroxyacetone...
Scheme 27: Ethanol upgrading to C4 bulk chemicals via the thiamine (VB1)-catalyzed acetoin condensation.
Scheme 28: One-pot sequential chemoenzymatic synthesis of 2-aminobutane-1,4-diol and 1,2,4-butanetriol via 1,4...
Scheme 29: Synthesis of 1,4-dihydroxybutan-2-one by microbial transformation.
Scheme 30: Conversion of polyols by [neocuproine)Pd(OAc)]2(OTf)2] to α-hydroxy ketones.
Scheme 31: Chemoselective oxidation of alcohols with chiral palladium-based catalyst 2.
Scheme 32: Electrochemical transformation of furfural to 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 33: Selective hydrodeoxygenation of HFO and oxidation to γ-butyrolactone (GBL).
Scheme 34: Photosensitized oxygenation of furan towards HFO via ozonide intermediates.
Scheme 35: Conversion of furfural to HFO and MAN by using mesoporous carbon nitride (SGCN) as photocatalyst.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of HFO from furan derivatives.
Scheme 37: Photooxidation of furfural to 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 38: Synthesis of Friedel–Crafts indole adduct from HFO.
Scheme 39: Conversion of HFO to α,γ-substituted chiral γ-lactones.
Scheme 40: Tautomeric transformation of HFO to formylacrylic acid.
Scheme 41: Hydrolysis of HFO to succinic acid in aqueous solution.
Scheme 42: Substitution and condensation reactions of 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 43: (a) Conversion of HFO towards valuable C4 chemicals and (b) anodic oxidation of 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-fur...
Figure 3: Conversion of HFO towards other natural and synthetic substances.
Scheme 44: Conversion of furfural to maleic anhydride (reaction a: VOx/Al2O3; reaction b: VPO).
Scheme 45: Conversion of furfural into succinic acid.
Scheme 46: Electro‑, photo‑, and biocatalysis for one-pot selective conversions of furfural into C4 chemicals.
Scheme 47: Production route of furfural from hemicellulose.
Scheme 48: Mechanism for xylose dehydration to furfural through a choline xyloside intermediate.
Scheme 49: Conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and its derivatives.
Scheme 50: Conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and 3-(2-furyl)acrolein.
Scheme 51: The aerobic oxidative condensation of biomass-derived furfural and linear alcohols.
Scheme 52: The single-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from furfural.
Scheme 53: Electrocatalytic coupling reaction of furfural and levulinic acid.
Scheme 54: Conversion of furfural to m-xylylenediamine.
Scheme 55: Conversion of furfural to tetrahydrofuran-derived amines.
Scheme 56: Formation of trans-4,5-diamino-cyclopent-2-enones from furfural.
Scheme 57: Production of pyrrole and proline from furfural.
Scheme 58: Synthesis of 1‑(trifluoromethyl)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-ones from furfural.
Scheme 59: Conversion of furfural to furfural-derived diacids.
Scheme 60: A telescope protocol derived from furfural and glycerol.
Scheme 61: A tandem cyclization of furfural and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione.
Scheme 62: A Ugi four-component reaction to construct furfural-based polyamides.
Scheme 63: One-pot synthesis of γ-acyloxy-Cy7 from furfural.
Scheme 64: Dimerization–Piancatelli sequence toward humins precursors from furfural.
Scheme 65: Conversion of furfural to CPN.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of jet fuels range cycloalkanes from CPN and lignin-derived vanillin.
Scheme 67: Solar-energy-driven synthesis of high-density biofuels from CPN.
Scheme 68: Reductive amination of CPN to cyclopentylamine.
Scheme 69: Asymmetric hydrogenation of C=O bonds of exocyclic α,β-unsaturated cyclopentanones.
Scheme 70: Preparation of levulinic acid via the C5 route (route a) or C6 route (routes b1 and b2).
Scheme 71: Mechanism of the rehydration of HMF to levulinic acid and formic acid.
Scheme 72: Important levulinic acid-derived chemicals.
Scheme 73: Direct conversion of levulinic acid to pentanoic acid.
Scheme 74: Catalytic aerobic oxidation of levulinic acid to citramalic acid.
Scheme 75: Conversion of levulinic acid to 1,4-pentanediol (a) see ref. [236]; b) see ref. [237]; c) see ref. [238]; d) see r...
Scheme 76: Selective production of 2-butanol through hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid.
Scheme 77: General reaction pathways proposed for the formation of 5MPs from levulinic acid.
Scheme 78: Selective reductive amination of levulinic acid to N-substituted pyrroles.
Scheme 79: Reductive amination of levulinic acid to chiral pyrrolidinone.
Scheme 80: Reductive amination of levulinic acid to non-natural chiral γ-amino acid.
Scheme 81: Nitrogen-containing chemicals derived from levulinic acid.
Scheme 82: Preparation of GVL from levulinic acid by dehydration and hydrogenation.
Scheme 83: Ruthenium-catalyzed levulinic acid to chiral γ-valerolactone.
Scheme 84: Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of levulinic acid to chiral GVL.
Scheme 85: Three steps synthesis of ε-caprolactam from GVL.
Scheme 86: Multistep synthesis of nylon 6,6 from GVL.
Scheme 87: Preparation of MeGVL by α-alkylation of GVL.
Scheme 88: Ring-opening polymerization of five-membered lactones.
Scheme 89: Synthesis of GVL-based ionic liquids.
Scheme 90: Preparation of butene isomers from GVL under Lewis acid conditions.
Scheme 91: Construction of C5–C12 fuels from GVL over nano-HZSM-5 catalysts.
Scheme 92: Preparation of alkyl valerate from GVL via ring opening/reduction/esterification sequence.
Scheme 93: Construction of 4-acyloxypentanoic acids from GVL.
Scheme 94: Synthesis of 1,4-pentanediol (PDO) from GVL.
Scheme 95: Construction of novel cyclic hemiketal platforms via self-Claisen condensation of GVL.
Scheme 96: Copper-catalyzed lactamization of GVL.
Figure 4: Main scaffolds obtained from HMF.
Scheme 97: Biginelli reactions towards HMF-containing dihydropyrimidinones.
Scheme 98: Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis involving HMF.
Scheme 99: The Kabachnik–Fields reaction involving HMF.
Scheme 100: Construction of oxazolidinone from HMF.
Scheme 101: Construction of rhodamine-furan hybrids from HMF.
Scheme 102: A Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction involving HMF.
Scheme 103: HMF-containing benzodiazepines by [4 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions.
Scheme 104: Synthesis of fluorinated analogues of α-aryl ketones.
Scheme 105: Synthesis of HMF derived disubstituted γ-butyrolactone.
Scheme 106: Functionalized aromatics from furfural and HMF.
Scheme 107: Diels–Alder adducts from HMF or furfural with N-methylmaleimide.
Scheme 108: Pathway of the one-pot conversion of HMF into phthalic anhydride.
Scheme 109: Photocatalyzed preparation of humins (L-H) from HMF mixed with spoiled HMF residues (LMW-H) and fur...
Scheme 110: Asymmetric dipolar cycloadditions on HMF.
Scheme 111: Dipolar cycloadditions of HMF based nitrones to 3,4- and 3,5-substituted isoxazolidines.
Scheme 112: Production of δ-lactone-fused cyclopenten-2-ones from HMF.
Scheme 113: Aza-Piancatelli access to aza-spirocycles from HMF-derived intermediates.
Scheme 114: Cross-condensation of furfural, acetone and HMF into C13, C14 and C15 products.
Scheme 115: Base-catalyzed aldol condensation/dehydration sequences from HMF.
Scheme 116: Condensation of HMF and active methylene nitrile.
Scheme 117: MBH reactions involving HMF.
Scheme 118: Synthesis of HMF-derived ionic liquids.
Scheme 119: Reductive amination/enzymatic acylation sequence towards HMF-based surfactants.
Scheme 120: The formation of 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF).
Scheme 121: Conversion of CMF to HMF, levulinic acid, and alkyl levulinates.
Scheme 122: Conversion of CMF to CMFCC and FDCC.
Scheme 123: Conversion of CMF to BHMF.
Scheme 124: Conversion of CMF to DMF.
Scheme 125: CMF chlorine atom substitutions toward HMF ethers and esters.
Scheme 126: Introduction of carbon nucleophiles in CMF.
Scheme 127: NHC-catalyzed remote enantioselective Mannich-type reactions of CMF.
Scheme 128: Conversion of CMF to promising biomass-derived dyes.
Scheme 129: Radical transformation of CMF with styrenes.
Scheme 130: Synthesis of natural herbicide δ-aminolevulinic acid from CMF.
Scheme 131: Four step synthesis of the drug ranitidine from CMF.
Scheme 132: Pd/CO2 cooperative catalysis for the production of HHD and HXD.
Scheme 133: Different ruthenium (Ru) catalysts for the ring-opening of 5-HMF to HHD.
Scheme 134: Proposed pathways for preparing HXD from HMF.
Scheme 135: MCP formation and uses.
Scheme 136: Cu(I)-catalyzed highly selective oxidation of HHD to 2,5-dioxohexanal.
Scheme 137: Synthesis of N‑substituted 3‑hydroxypyridinium salts from 2,5-dioxohexanal.
Scheme 138: Ru catalyzed hydrogenations of HHD to 1,2,5-hexanetriol (a) see ref. [396]; b) see ref. [397]).
Scheme 139: Aviation fuel range quadricyclanes produced by HXD.
Scheme 140: Synthesis of HDGK from HXD and glycerol as a chain extender.
Scheme 141: Synthesis of serinol pyrrole from HXD and serinol.
Scheme 142: Synthesis of pyrroles from HXD and nitroarenes.
Scheme 143: Two-step production of PX from cellulose via HXD.
Scheme 144: Preparation of HCPN from HMF via hydrogenation and ring rearrangement.
Scheme 145: Suggested pathways from HMF to HCPN.
Scheme 146: α-Alkylation of HCPN with ethylene gas.
Scheme 147: Synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylamine from HMF via reductive amination of HCPN.
Scheme 148: Production of LGO and Cyrene® from biomass.
Scheme 149: Synthesis of HBO from LGO and other applications.
Scheme 150: Construction of m-Cyrene® homopolymer.
Scheme 151: Conversion of Cyrene® to THFDM and 1,6-hexanediol.
Scheme 152: RAFT co-polymerization of LGO and butadienes.
Scheme 153: Polycondensation of HO-LGOL and diols with dimethyl adipate.
Scheme 154: Self-condensation of Cyrene® and Claisen–Schmidt reactions.
Scheme 155: Synthesis of 5-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran from Cyrene®.
Discovery of cytotoxic indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline derivatives through scaffold-based design
- Daniil V. Khabarov,
- Valeria A. Litvinova,
- Lyubov G. Dezhenkova,
- Dmitry N. Kaluzhny,
- Alexander S. Tikhomirov and
- Andrey E. Shchekotikhin
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2062–2071, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.161
- NH proton in the urea moiety (position N5) of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolin-6(5H)-one (1) enables efficient N-alkylation. Accordingly, alkylation of 1 with 1-bromo-3-chloropropane afforded intermediate 11, bearing a reactive chloropropyl side chain suitable for further derivatization. Nucleophilic
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Structure of indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline, its selected derivatives, and related structures with biolog...
Scheme 1: Synthesis of 12-modified indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline derivatives.
Scheme 2: Synthesis of indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline-12-carboxamides 7a–c.
Scheme 3: Mannich aminomethylation of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines 1 and 8.
Scheme 4: Synthesis of 5-(3-aminopropyl) derivatives of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolin-6(5H)-one 12a–c.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of derivatives of 6-(aminomethyl)indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines 14a–d.
Figure 2: Fluorescence quenching of compounds 7a–c (2 μM) upon titration with calf thymus DNA (0–290 μM base ...
Understanding the origin of stereoselectivity in the photochemical denitrogenation of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene and its derivatives with non-adiabatic molecular dynamics
- Leticia A. Gomes and
- Steven A. Lopez
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2007–2020, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.156
- chemoselectivity for cysteine alkylation under mild conditions, for example, BCB-ibrutinib [28] (Scheme 1c). BCB is also used as a precursor to byciclo[1.1.1]pentanes, which are valuable motifs in drug design [19][20][29][30][31][32][33], such as BCP-darapladib (Scheme 1c) [30][31][34][35]. Housanes are versatile
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Applications of bicyclo[1.1.0]butane (a) and bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane (b). Molecules with biological a...
Scheme 2: Diastereoselectivity in the direct photolysis of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes.
Scheme 3: Mechanism for the photodenitrogenation of DBH proposed in the literature.
Figure 1: CASSCF(8,9) active space of 1 with average electron occupancies. Orbitals were calculated at the SA...
Figure 2: Absorption spectra and geometric overlays corresponding to Wigner-sampled geometries of 1 (a), 3 (b...
Figure 3: Minimum energy path using XMS-CASPT2(8,9)/ANO-S-VDZP for 1 (a), 3 (b), and 5 (c). The dots on the g...
Figure 4: (a) The bond lengths we calculated are depicted. σCN bonds plotted against each other for 1 (b), 3 ...
Figure 5: (a) Geometrical parameters. Plots show trajectories for a 1 ps NAMD simulation with CASSCF (8,9)/AN...
Figure 6: (a) Geometrical parameters. H–C–C–C dihedral angles plotted against each other for S1-to-S0 hopping...
Figure 7: The minimum energy conical intersection geometries are shown for the partially inverted hopping poi...
Asymmetric total synthesis of tricyclic prostaglandin D2 metabolite methyl ester via oxidative radical cyclization
- Miao Xiao,
- Liuyang Pu,
- Qiaoli Shang,
- Lei Zhu and
- Jun Huang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1964–1972, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.152
- proposed mechanism to 21 involved the formation of an electron-deficient, resonance-stabilized radical species, followed by intramolecular alkylation of the unactivated alkene to generate radical 29 via a diastereoselective 5-exo-trig cyclization step. Radical intermediate 29 was trapped by 2,4,6
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Representative prostaglandins and general synthetic strategy toward PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 2: Retrosynthetic analysis for the first generation synthesis of PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of bicyclic ketal 25.
Scheme 4: Retrosynthetic analysis for the second-generation synthesis of tricyclic PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 5: Asymmetric total synthesis of tricyclic-PGDM methyl ester 4.
Enantioselective desymmetrization strategy of prochiral 1,3-diols in natural product synthesis
- Lihua Wei,
- Rui Yang,
- Zhifeng Shi and
- Zhiqiang Ma
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1932–1963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.151
- triflate 46, alkylation with sulfone 47 via treatment with butyllithium and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) yielded the coupling product 48 as a mixture of diastereoisomers in 60% yield. Ultimately, single-electron reduction removed both the sulfone and benzyl groups of 48, furnishing (S)-α-tocotrienol (49
- transesterification. After substrates screening, diol 65 was selected and converted into monoester 66 in 95% yield with 98% ee using vinyl acetate and lipase PS from Pseudomonas cepacia. Four subsequent steps afforded sulfone 67, and the following alkylation with fragment 68 in the presence of butyllithium and HMPA
- removal of the benzyl group, chemoselective N-alkylation with fragment 196, and removal of the benzoyl group allowed the conversion of 195 into iodide 197. Sequential oxidation of the alcohol, HWE reaction, and reduction of the resulting ester then provided compound 198. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: General mechanism of a lipase-catalyzed esterification.
Scheme 2: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-xanthorrhizol (4) and (+)-heliannuol D (8).
Scheme 3: Shishido’s synthesis of a) (−)-heliannuol A (15) and b) heliannuol G (20) and heliannuol H (21).
Scheme 4: Deska’s synthesis of hyperione A (30) and ent-hyperione B (31).
Scheme 5: Huang’s synthesis of (+)-brazilin (37).
Scheme 6: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-heliannuol D (42) and (+)-heliannuol A (43).
Scheme 7: Chênevert’s synthesis of (S)-α-tocotrienol (49).
Scheme 8: Kita’s synthesis of monoester 53.
Scheme 9: Kita’s synthesis of fredericamycin A (60).
Scheme 10: Takabe’s synthesis of (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene-1,8-diol (64).
Scheme 11: Takabe’s synthesis of (18S)-variabilin (70).
Scheme 12: Kawasaki’s synthesis of (S)-Rosaphen (74) and (R)-Rosaphen (75).
Scheme 13: Tokuyama’s synthesis of a) (−)-petrosin (84) and b) (+)-petrosin (86).
Scheme 14: Fukuyama’s synthesis of leustroducsin B (96).
Scheme 15: Nanda’s synthesis of a) fragment 100, b) fragment 106 and c) (−)-rasfonin (109).
Scheme 16: Davies’ synthesis of (+)-pilocarpine (115) and (+)-isopilocarpine (116).
Scheme 17: Ōmura’s synthesis of salinosporamide A (125).
Scheme 18: Kang’s synthesis of ʟ-cladinose (124) and its derivative.
Scheme 19: Kang’s preparation of fragment 139.
Scheme 20: Kang’s synthesis of azithromycin (149).
Scheme 21: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-dysiherbaine (156).
Scheme 22: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-kaitocephalin (166).
Scheme 23: Kang’s synthesis of laidlomycin (180).
Scheme 24: Snyder’s synthesis of arboridinine (190).
Scheme 25: Ma’s synthesis of (+)-alstrostine G (203).
Scheme 26: Trost’s synthesis of (−)-18-epi-peloruside A (215).
Scheme 27: Lindel’s synthesis of (–)-dihydroraputindole (223).
Scheme 28: Iwata’s synthesis of a) (−)-talaromycin B (232) and b) (+)-talaromycin A (235).
Scheme 29: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-vincamajinine (240) and b) (−)-11-methoxy-17-epivincamajine (245).
Scheme 30: Cook’s synthesis of (+)-dehydrovoachalotine (249) and voachalotine (250).
Scheme 31: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-12-methoxy-Nb-methylvoachalotine (257) and b) (+)-polyneuridine, macusin...
Scheme 32: Trauner’s synthesis of stephadiamine (273).
Scheme 33: Garg’s synthesis of (–)-ψ-akuammigine (285).
Scheme 34: Ding’s synthesis of (+)-18-benzoyldavisinol (293) and (+)-davisinol (294).
Synthesis, biological and electrochemical evaluation of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids as potential anticancer drugs
- Almaz A. Zagidullin,
- Emil R. Bulatov,
- Mikhail N. Khrizanforov,
- Damir R. Davletshin,
- Elvina M. Gilyazova,
- Ivan A. Strelkov and
- Vasily A. Miluykov
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1909–1916, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.148
- albumin was chosen as a model protein because of its well‐characterized structure and the presence of reactive sites that are known to be susceptible to alkylation. In standard aqueous media, the electrochemical oxidation of HSA can be observed via LSV as a broad wave, which is often attributed to the
- themselves exhibit no discernible redox activity in this potential range when tested in the absence of HSA. Consequently, any changes in the recorded voltammogram could be attributed to the interaction (alkylation) of albumin rather than to new electrochemical processes arising directly from the compounds
- (Figure 4). In many alkylation scenarios, crosslinking or other structural rearrangements can render previously oxidizable moieties inaccessible or shift the protein’s conformational state. This suppresses or altogether eliminates the characteristic oxidation wave of HSA. Based on established literature
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Structures of some pharmacological important phosphorus-containing molecules with oxirane or azirid...
Scheme 1: Synthesis of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids 1–3.
Figure 2: Dose–response curves for the cytotoxic effects of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids 1–3 on human ...
Figure 3: Linear sweep voltammograms of 1 × 10−4 М HSA (black) and HSA mixed with each of the three alkylatin...
Figure 4: Chemical structure of alkylating fragment of 1–3 and the associated chemical pathway of its covalen...
Photoswitches beyond azobenzene: a beginner’s guide
- Michela Marcon,
- Christoph Haag and
- Burkhard König
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1808–1853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.143
- bromide 47, followed by Fmoc protection of 56, Boc deprotection of 57, reduction of the NO2 group to NO and intramolecular Mills coupling to form 35h. Removal of the Fmoc protecting group under basic conditions affords the unsubstituted product 35d which, after N-alkylation or acylation affords the
- indigo is a well-known commercial product, we will not focus on other synthetic pathways, which can be found in a review by Hecht and co-workers [65], and instead discuss the N-functionalisation (Scheme 24, bottom). N-Alkylation in 76 can be achieved with alkyl halides and base. There are different
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Energy diagram of a two-state photoswitch. Figure 1 was redrawn from [2].
Figure 2: Example of the absorption spectra of the isomers of a photoswitch with most efficient irradiation w...
Scheme 1: Photoswitch classes described in this review.
Figure 3: Azoheteroarenes.
Scheme 2: E–Z Isomerisation (top) and mechanisms of thermal Z–E isomerisation (bottom).
Scheme 3: Rotation mechanism favoured by the electron displacement in push–pull systems. Selected examples of...
Figure 4: A) T-shaped and twisted Z-isomers determine the thermal stability and the Z–E-PSS (selected example...
Figure 5: Effect of di-ortho-substitution on thermal half-life and PSS.
Figure 6: Selected thermal lifetimes of azoindoles in different solvents and concentrations. aConcentration o...
Figure 7: Aryliminopyrazoles: N-pyrazoles (top) and N-phenyl (bottom).
Scheme 4: Synthesis of symmetrical heteroarenes through oxidation (A), reduction (B), and the Bayer–Mills rea...
Scheme 5: Synthesis of diazonium salt (A); different strategies of azo-coupling: with a nucleophilic ring (B)...
Scheme 6: Synthesis of arylazothiazoles 25 (A) and heteroaryltriazoles 28 (B).
Scheme 7: Synthesis of heteroarylimines 31a,b [36-38].
Figure 8: Push–pull non-ionic azo dye developed by Velasco and co-workers [45].
Scheme 8: Azopyridine reported by Herges and co-workers [46].
Scheme 9: Photoinduced phase transitioning azobispyrazoles [47].
Figure 9: Diazocines.
Scheme 10: Isomers, conformers and enantiomers of diazocine.
Scheme 11: Partial overlap of the ππ* band with electron-donating substituents and effect on the PSS. Scheme 11 was ada...
Figure 10: Main properties of diazocines with different bridges. aMeasured in n-hexane [56]. bMeasured in THF. cMe...
Scheme 12: Synthesis of symmetric diazocines.
Scheme 13: Synthesis of asymmetric diazocines.
Scheme 14: Synthesis of O- and S-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 15: Synthesis of N-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 16: Puromycin diazocine photoswitch [60].
Figure 11: Indigoids.
Figure 12: The main representatives of the indigoid photoswitch class.
Scheme 17: Deactivation process that prevents Z-isomerisation of indigo.
Figure 13: Stable Z-indigo derivative synthesised by Wyman and Zenhäusern [67].
Figure 14: Selected examples of indigos with aliphatic and aromatic substituents [68]. Dashed box: proposed π–π in...
Scheme 18: Resonance structures of indigo and thioindigo involving the phenyl ring.
Scheme 19: Possible deactivation mechanism for 4,4'-dihydroxythioindigo [76].
Scheme 20: Effect of different heteroaryl rings on the stability and the photophysical properties of hemiindig...
Figure 15: Thermal half-lives of red-shifted hemithioindigos in toluene [79]. aMeasured in toluene-d8.
Scheme 21: Structures of pyrrole [81] and imidazole hemithioindigo [64].
Figure 16: Examples of fully substituted double bond hemithioindigo (left), oxidised hemithioindigos (centre),...
Scheme 22: Structure of iminothioindoxyl 72 (top) and acylated phenyliminoindolinone photoswitch 73 (bottom). ...
Scheme 23: (top) Transition states of iminothioindoxyl 72. The planar transition state is associated with a lo...
Scheme 24: Baeyer–Drewsen synthesis of indigo (top) and N-functionalisation strategies (bottom).
Scheme 25: Synthesis of hemiindigo.
Scheme 26: Synthesis of hemithioindigo and iminothioindoxyl.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of double-bond-substituted hemithioindigos.
Scheme 28: Synthesis of phenyliminoindolinone.
Scheme 29: Hemithioindigo molecular motor [85].
Figure 17: Arylhydrazones.
Scheme 30: Switching of arylhydrazones. Note: The definitions of stator and rotor are arbitrary.
Scheme 31: Photo- and acidochromism of pyridine-based phenylhydrazones.
Scheme 32: A) E–Z thermal inversion of a thermally stable push–pull hydrazone [109]. B) Rotation mechanism favoured...
Scheme 33: Effect of planarisation on the half-life.
Scheme 34: The longest thermally stable hydrazone switches reported so far (left). Modulation of thermal half-...
Figure 18: Dependency of t1/2 on concentration and hypothesised aggregation-induced isomerisation.
Figure 19: Structure–property relationship of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 35: Synthesis of arylhydrazones.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 37: Photoswitchable fluorophore by Aprahamian et al. [115].
Scheme 38: The four-state photoswitch synthesised by the Cigáň group [116].
Figure 20: Diarylethenes.
Scheme 39: Isomerisation and oxidation pathway of E-stilbene to phenanthrene.
Scheme 40: Strategies adapted to avoid E–Z isomerisation and oxidation.
Scheme 41: Molecular orbitals and mechanism of electrocyclisation for a 6π system.
Figure 21: Aromatic stabilisation energy correlated with the thermal stability of the diarylethenes [127,129].
Figure 22: Half-lives of diarylethenes with increasing electron-withdrawing groups [128,129].
Scheme 42: Photochemical degradation pathway promoted by electron-donating groups [130].
Figure 23: The diarylethenes studied by Hanazawa et al. [134]. Increased rigidity leads to bathochromic shift.
Scheme 43: The dithienylethene synthesised by Nakatani's group [135].
Scheme 44: Synthesis of perfluoroalkylated diarylethenes.
Scheme 45: Synthesis of 139 and 142 via McMurry coupling.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of symmetrical derivatives 145 via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of acyclic 148, malonic anhydride 149, and maleimide derivatives 154.
Figure 24: Gramicidin S (top left) and two of the modified diarylethene derivatives: first generation (bottom ...
Scheme 48: Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and its reaction with an amino acid (top). The analogous dithienylethene der...
Figure 25: Fulgides.
Scheme 49: The three isomers of fulgides.
Scheme 50: Thermal and photochemical side products of unsubstituted fulgide [150].
Figure 26: Maximum absorption λc of the closed isomer compared with the nature of the aromatic ring and the su...
Scheme 51: Possible rearrangement of the excited state of 5-dimethylaminoindolylfulgide [153].
Figure 27: Quantum yields of ring closure (ΦE→C) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) correlated with the increasing s...
Scheme 52: Active (Eα) and inactive (Eβ) conformers (left) and the bicyclic sterically blocked fulgide 169 (ri...
Scheme 53: Quantum yield of ring-opening (ΦC→E) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) for different substitution patter...
Scheme 54: Stobbe condensation pathway for the synthesis of fulgides 179, fulgimides 181 and fulgenates 178.
Scheme 55: Alternative synthesis of fulgides through Pd-catalysed carbonylation.
Scheme 56: Optimised synthesis of fulgimides [166].
Scheme 57: Photoswitchable FRET with a fulgimide photoswitch [167].
Scheme 58: Three-state fulgimide strategy by Slanina's group.
Figure 28: Spiropyrans.
Scheme 59: Photochemical (left) and thermal (right) ring-opening mechanisms for an exemplary spiropyran with a...
Figure 29: Eight possible isomers of the open merocyanine according to the E/Z configurations of the bonds hig...
Scheme 60: pH-Controlled photoisomerisation between the closed spiropyran 191-SP and the open E-merocyanine 19...
Scheme 61: Behaviour of spiropyran in water buffer according to Andréasson and co-workers [180]. 192-SP in an aqueo...
Scheme 62: (left box) Proposed mechanism of basic hydrolysis of MC [184]. (right box) Introduction of electron-dona...
Scheme 63: Photochemical interconversion of naphthopyran 194 (top) and spirooxazine 195 (bottom) photoswitches...
Scheme 64: Synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines 198 and the dicondensation by-product 199.
Scheme 65: Alternative synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines with indolenylium salt 200.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of 4’-substituted spiropyrans 203 by condensation of an acylated methylene indoline 201 w...
Scheme 67: Synthesis of spironaphthopyrans 210 by acid-catalysed condensation of naphthols and diarylpropargyl...
Scheme 68: Photoswitchable surface wettability [194].
Figure 30: Some guiding principles for the choice of the most suitable photoswitch. Note that this guide is ve...
[3 + 2] Cycloaddition of thioformylium methylide with various arylidene-azolones in the synthesis of 7-thia-3-azaspiro[4.4]nonan-4-ones
- Daniil I. Rudik,
- Irina V. Tiushina,
- Anatoly I. Sokolov,
- Alexander Yu. Smirnov,
- Alexander R. Romanenko,
- Alexander A. Korlyukov,
- Andrey A. Mikhaylov and
- Mikhail S. Baranov
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1791–1798, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.141
- methylide [20]. generality and overall yields of the [2 + 3] cycloaddition of thioformylium methylide with azolones was not as effective. Possible alkylation of pyridine derivatives 1,3 and 4g by initial compound I did not allow us to obtain the corresponding products. A similar problem was observed for
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Synthetic and natural spirocyclic tetrahydrothiophene derivatives with pharmacological activities. ...
Scheme 2: Synthesis of starting azolones 1–5.
Scheme 3: Reaction scope.
Figure 1: Single crystal X-ray analysis for the compounds 6e (A), 7d (B), 8e (C) and 9e (D). Atoms are shown ...
Scheme 4: Oxidation of thioether group.
Photocatalysis and photochemistry in organic synthesis
- Timothy Noël and
- Bartholomäus Pieber
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1645–1647, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.128
- of alkenylboronic esters using energy transfer catalysis [26]. Gualandi and co-workers leveraged a combination of photoredox and HAT catalysis to realize the intramolecular nucleophilic amidation of alkenes with β-lactams [27]. Further, Luridiana and colleagues developed a method for the alkylation
High-pressure activation for the solvent- and catalyst-free syntheses of heterocycles, pharmaceuticals and esters
- Kelsey Plasse,
- Valerie Wright,
- Guoshu Xie,
- R. Bernadett Vlocskó,
- Alexander Lazarev and
- Béla Török
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1374–1387, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.102
- Mannich reactions [20], lipase-catalyzed esterification [21], nitro-aldol [22], Michael [23], and aza-Michael reactions [24][25], Diels–Alder reactions [26][27] and Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles [28]. Many high pressure reactions were applied in natural product synthesis [29]. The high pressure
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Simplified schematic rendering of a high hydrostatic pressure reactor.
Scheme 1: High pressure-initiated synthesis of 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazoles 3a–d. The yields are GC yields and t...
Figure 2: Illustration of the cyclization reaction between chalcone (4) and 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylhydrazin...
Scheme 2: High pressure-initiated catalyst- and solvent-free synthesis of pyrazoles 6a–c from chalcone (4) an...
Figure 3: Schematic representation of the cycling experiments: the major variables are the applied pressure, ...
Scheme 3: High pressure-initiated synthesis of the active pharmaceutical ingredients in Tylenol® and Aspirin®...
Scheme 4: High pressure-initiated esterification of alcohols 12a–g in a catalyst- and additional solvent-free...
Scheme 5: High pressure-initiated large scale syntheses of N-aryl- and N-alkylpyrroles at about 100 g scale.
Oxetanes: formation, reactivity and total syntheses of natural products
- Peter Gabko,
- Martin Kalník and
- Maroš Bella
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1324–1373, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.101
- traced back to 3-oxetanone. In 2018, Bull and co-workers disclosed the first lithium-catalysed thiol alkylation using electron-rich 3-aryloxetan-3-ols 142 (Scheme 35) [84]. This protocol is completely chemoselective as no ring-opening was observed and the resulting oxetane sulphides 143 were obtained in
- 2020, Bull et al. published a short synthesis of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids 152 employing a Friedel–Crafts alkylation (which builds on their previous alkylation of phenols [87]) and a selective furan oxidative cleavage (Scheme 37) [88]. The oxidation protocol uses a catalytic amount of a high
- 178 from 3-aryloxetan-3-ols through a tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intramolecular ring opening (Scheme 45) [87]. The reaction was mostly high yielding and best results were obtained for electron-rich para-substituted phenols, while substituents in the ortho/meta-positions diverted the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Bond lengths and bond angles in oxetane at 140 K [2].
Figure 2: Analogy of 3-substituted oxetanes to carbonyl and gem-dimethyl groups [12].
Figure 3: Use of oxetanes in drug design – selected examples.
Figure 4: Examples of oxetane-containing natural products.
Scheme 1: Synthetic strategies towards construction of the oxetane ring.
Scheme 2: Overview of intramolecular Williamson etherification and competing Grob fragmentation.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of spiro-oxetanes via 1,4-C–H insertion and Williamson etherification.
Scheme 4: Use of phenyl vinyl selenone in the synthesis of spirooxindole oxetanes.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of bicyclic 3,5-anhydrofuranoses via double epoxide opening/etherification.
Scheme 6: Preparation of spirooxetanes by cycloisomerisation via MHAT/RPC.
Scheme 7: Oxetane synthesis via alcohol C–H functionalisation.
Scheme 8: Access to oxetanes 38 from α-acetyloxy iodides.
Scheme 9: The kilogram-scale synthesis of oxetane intermediate 41.
Scheme 10: Overview of the intramolecular opening of 3-membered rings.
Scheme 11: Synthesis of 4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octane skeletons.
Scheme 12: Silicon-directed electrophilic cyclisation of homoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 13: Hydrosilylation–iodocyclisation of homopropargylic alcohols.
Scheme 14: Cu-catalysed intramolecular O-vinylation of γ-bromohomoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 15: Cu-catalysed intramolecular cross-coupling of hydroxyvinylstannanes.
Scheme 16: Isomerisation of oxiranyl ethers containing weakly carbanion-stabilising groups.
Scheme 17: Cyclisation of diethyl haloalkoxymalonates.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of oxetanes through a 1,5-HAT/radical recombination sequence.
Scheme 19: General approach to oxetanes via [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 20: Synthesis of tricyclic 4:4:4 oxetanes through a photochemical triple cascade reaction.
Scheme 21: Iridium-catalysed Paternò–Büchi reaction between α-ketoesters and simple alkenes.
Scheme 22: Three-step synthesis of spirocyclic oxetanes 83 via Paternò–Büchi reaction, nucleophilic ring openi...
Scheme 23: Enantioselective Paternò–Büchi reaction catalysed by a chiral iridium photocatalyst.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of polysubstituted oxetanes 92 via Cu(II)-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 25: Synthesis of alkylideneoxetanes via NHC- and DBU-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 26: Use of sulphur-stabilised carbanions in ring expansions.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of α,α-difluoro(arylthio)methyl oxetanes.
Scheme 28: Ring expansion in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 29: Ring contraction of triflated 2-hydroxy-γ-lactones.
Scheme 30: Ring contraction in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 31: Photochemical ring contraction of 2,5-dihydrofurans by aryldiazoacetic acid esters.
Scheme 32: Synthesis of 3-oxetanones via O-H insertion of carbenes.
Scheme 33: Synthesis of phosphonate oxetanones via gold-mediated alkyne oxidation/O–H insertion.
Scheme 34: Syntheses and common derivatisations of 3-oxetanone.
Scheme 35: SN1 substitution of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols by thiols and alcohols.
Scheme 36: Fe–Ni dual-catalytic olefin hydroarylation towards 3-alkyl-3-(hetero)aryloxetanes.
Scheme 37: Synthesis of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 38: Decarboxylative alkylation of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 39: Synthesis of 3-amino-3-aryloxetanes via photoredox/nickel cross-coupling catalysis.
Scheme 40: Intermolecular cross-selective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition towards spirooxetanes.
Scheme 41: Synthesis of 3-aryl-3-aminooxetanes via defluorosulphonylative coupling.
Scheme 42: Two-step synthesis of amide bioisosteres via benzotriazolyl Mannich adducts 170.
Scheme 43: Functionalisation of oxetanyl trichloroacetimidates 172.
Scheme 44: Synthesis of oxetane-amino esters 176.
Scheme 45: Tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intramolecular ring opening of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of polysubstituted furans and pyrroles.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of oxazolines and bisoxazolines.
Scheme 48: Tandem, one-pot syntheses of various polycyclic heterocycles.
Scheme 49: Synthesis of 1,2-dihydroquinolines via skeletal reorganisation of oxetanes.
Scheme 50: Synthesis of benzoindolines and 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and their derivatisations.
Scheme 51: Synthesis of polysubstituted 1,4-dioxanes.
Scheme 52: Preparation of various lactones via ring opening of oxetane-carboxylic acids 219.
Scheme 53: Tsuji-Trost allylation/ring opening of 3-aminooxetanes.
Scheme 54: Arylative skeletal rearrangement of 3-vinyloxetan-3-ols to 2,5-dihydrofurans.
Scheme 55: Reductive opening of oxetanes using catalytic Mg–H species.
Scheme 56: Opening of oxetanes by silyl ketene acetals.
Scheme 57: Rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation of oxetanes.
Scheme 58: Generation of radicals from oxetanes mediated by a vitamin B12-derived cobalt catalyst.
Scheme 59: Reductive opening of oxetanes by B–Si frustrated Lewis pairs.
Scheme 60: Zirconocene-mediated reductive opening of oxetanes.
Scheme 61: Enantioselective syntheses of small and medium-size rings using chiral phosphoric acids.
Scheme 62: Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepines catalysed by a chiral scandium complex.
Scheme 63: Enantioselective synthesis of 1,3-bromohydrins under a chiral squaramide catalysis.
Scheme 64: Enantioselective opening of 2-aryl-2-ethynyloxetanes by anilines.
Scheme 65: Ru-catalysed insertion of diazocarbonyls into oxetanes.
Scheme 66: Ring expansion of oxetanes by stabilised carbenes generated under blue light irradiation.
Scheme 67: Expansion of oxetanes via nickel-catalysed insertion of alkynyltrifluoroborates.
Scheme 68: Nickel-catalysed expansion of oxetanes into ε-caprolactones.
Scheme 69: Expansion of oxetanes via cobalt-catalysed carbonyl insertion.
Scheme 70: Gold-catalysed intramolecular 1,1-carboalkoxylation of oxetane-ynamides.
Scheme 71: Expansion of oxetanes by stabilised sulphoxonium ylides.
Scheme 72: Cu-catalysed ring expansion of 2-vinyloxetanes by diazoesters.
Scheme 73: Total synthesis of (+)-oxetin.
Scheme 74: Total synthesis of racemic oxetanocin A.
Scheme 75: Total synthesis of (−)-merrilactone A.
Scheme 76: Total synthesis of (+)-dictyoxetane.
Scheme 77: Total synthesis of ent-dichrocephone B.
Scheme 78: Total synthesis of (−)-mitrephorone A.
Scheme 79: Total synthesis of (−)-taxol.
Recent advances in amidyl radical-mediated photocatalytic direct intermolecular hydrogen atom transfer
- Hao-Sen Wang,
- Lin Li,
- Xin Chen,
- Jian-Li Wu,
- Kai Sun,
- Xiao-Lan Chen,
- Ling-Bo Qu and
- Bing Yu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1306–1323, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.100
- transformation. Representative photocatalysts discussed in this review. Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light. Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light. Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical and metal-free photocatalyst under
- visible light. Alkylation of C(sp3)–H, Si–H, and Ge–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light. Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by synergistic promotion of amidyl radical and photocatalyst, under visible light. Direct B–H functionalization of icosahedral carboranes catalyzed by amidyl
- C(sp3)–H in polyolefins addressed by amidyl radical under visible light. Site-selective C(sp3)–H bromination implemented by amidyl radical under visible light. Site-selective chlorination of C(sp3)–H in natural products implemented by amidyl radical under visible light. Alkylation of C(sp3)–H
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: (a) BDE of C–H. (b) Direct functionalization of C–H catalyzed by transition-metal. (c) Direct funct...
Figure 2: (a) Amidyl radical-enabled hydrogen atom transfer. (b) Substituent effects to amidyl radical proper...
Figure 3: Representative photocatalysts discussed in this review.
Scheme 1: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 2: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 3: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical and metal-free photocatalyst under visible light....
Scheme 4: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H, Si–H, and Ge–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 5: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by synergistic promotion of amidyl radical and photoca...
Scheme 6: Direct B–H functionalization of icosahedral carboranes catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible li...
Scheme 7: Nucleophilic amination of C(sp3)–H enabled by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 8: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H and C(sp3)–H without the presence of strong bases, acids, or oxi...
Scheme 9: Xanthylation of C(sp3)–H addressed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 10: Xanthylation of C(sp3)–H in polyolefins addressed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 11: Site-selective C(sp3)–H bromination implemented by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 12: Site-selective chlorination of C(sp3)–H in natural products implemented by amidyl radical under vis...
Scheme 13: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical photocatalyst under visible light.
Recent advances in oxidative radical difunctionalization of N-arylacrylamides enabled by carbon radical reagents
- Jiangfei Chen,
- Yi-Lin Qu,
- Ming Yuan,
- Xiang-Mei Wu,
- Heng-Pei Jiang,
- Ying Fu and
- Shengrong Guo
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1207–1271, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.98
- . Control experiments confirmed the necessity of both AIBN and DTBP, with higher temperatures favoring the desired cyclization over side reactions. In 2021, a novel excited-state palladium-catalyzed alkylation/annulation reaction was developed to achieve reaction of unactivated alkyl chlorides, facilitating
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: DTBP-mediated oxidative alkylarylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 2: Iron-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkylarylation.
Scheme 3: Possible mechanism for the iron-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 4: A metal-free strategy for synthesizing 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles.
Scheme 5: Iminoxyl radical-promoted cascade oxyalkylation/alkylarylation of alkenes.
Scheme 6: Proposed mechanism for the iminoxyl radical-promoted cascade oxyalkylation/alkylarylation of alkene...
Scheme 7: Bicyclization of 1,n-enynes with alkyl nitriles.
Scheme 8: Possible reaction mechanism for the bicyclization of 1,n-enynes with alkyl nitriles.
Scheme 9: Radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with isocyanides.
Scheme 10: Plausible mechanism for the radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with isocyanides.
Scheme 11: Electrochemical dehydrogenative cyclization of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
Scheme 12: Plausible mechanism for the dehydrogenative cyclization of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
Scheme 13: Photocatalyzed cyclization of N-arylacrylamide and N,N-dimethylaniline.
Scheme 14: Proposed mechanism for the photocatalyzed cyclization of N-arylacrylamides and N,N-dimethylanilines....
Scheme 15: Electrochemical monofluoroalkylation cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with dimethyl 2-fluoromalonat...
Scheme 16: Proposed mechanism for the electrochemical radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with dimethyl 2...
Scheme 17: Photoelectrocatalytic carbocyclization of unactivated alkenes using simple malonates.
Scheme 18: Plausible mechanism for the photoelectrocatalytic carbocyclization of unactivated alkenes with simp...
Scheme 19: Bromide-catalyzed electrochemical trifluoromethylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 20: Proposed mechanism for the electrochemical trifluoromethylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 21: Visible light-mediated trifluoromethylarylation of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 22: Plausible reaction mechanism for the visible light-mediated trifluoromethylarylation of N-arylacryl...
Scheme 23: Electrochemical difluoroethylation cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with sodium difluoroethylsulfin...
Scheme 24: Electrochemical difluoroethylation cyclization of N-methyacryloyl-N-alkylbenzamides with sodium dif...
Scheme 25: Photoredox-catalyzed radical aryldifluoromethylation of N-arylacrylamides with S-(difluoromethyl)su...
Scheme 26: Proposed mechanism for the photoredox-catalyzed radical aryldifluoromethylation of N-arylacrylamide...
Scheme 27: Visible-light-induced domino difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-cyanamide alkenes.
Scheme 28: Proposed mechanism of photoredox-catalyzed radical domino difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-cyana...
Scheme 29: Palladium-catalyzed oxidative difunctionalization of alkenes.
Scheme 30: Two possible mechanisms of palladium-catalyzed oxidative difunctionalization.
Scheme 31: Silver-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkyletherification of unactivated alkenes with α-bromoalkylcarbonyl...
Scheme 32: Photochemical radical cascade cyclization of dienes.
Scheme 33: Proposed mechanism for the photochemical radical cascade 6-endo cyclization of dienes with α-carbon...
Scheme 34: Photocatalyzed radical coupling/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides and.
Scheme 35: Photocatalyzed radical-type couplings/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with sulfoxonium ylides.
Scheme 36: Possible mechanism of visible-light-induced radical-type couplings/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides...
Scheme 37: Visible-light-promoted difluoroalkylated oxindoles systhesis via EDA complexes.
Scheme 38: Possible mechanism for the visible-light-promoted radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with bro...
Scheme 39: A dicumyl peroxide-initiated radical cascade reaction of N-arylacrylamide with DCM.
Scheme 40: Possible mechanism of radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with DCM.
Scheme 41: An AIBN-mediated radical cascade reaction of N-arylacrylamides with perfluoroalkyl iodides.
Scheme 42: Possible mechanism for the reaction with perfluoroalkyl iodides.
Scheme 43: Photoinduced palladium-catalyzed radical annulation of N-arylacrylamides with alkyl halides.
Scheme 44: Radical alkylation/cyclization of N-Alkyl-N-methacryloylbenzamides with alkyl halides.
Scheme 45: Possible mechanism for the alkylation/cyclization with unactivated alkyl chlorides.
Scheme 46: Visible-light-driven palladium-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with unac...
Scheme 47: NHC-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with alkyl bromides.
Scheme 48: Possible mechanism of NHC-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 49: Electrochemically mediated radical cyclization reaction of N-arylacrylamides with freon-type methan...
Scheme 50: Proposed mechanistic pathway of electrochemically induced radical cyclization reaction.
Scheme 51: Redox-neutral photoinduced radical cascade cylization of N-arylacrylamides with unactivated alkyl c...
Scheme 52: Proposed mechanistic hypothesis of redox-neutral radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 53: Thiol-mediated photochemical radical cascade cylization of N-arylacrylamides with aryl halides.
Scheme 54: Proposed possible mechanism of thiol-mediated photochemical radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 55: Visible-light-induced radical cascade bromocyclization of N-arylacrylamides with NBS.
Scheme 56: Possible mechanism of visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 57: Decarboxylation/radical C–H functionalization by visible-light photoredox catalysis.
Scheme 58: Plausible mechanism of visible-light photoredox-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 59: Visible-light-promoted tandem radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with N-(acyloxy)phthalimides....
Scheme 60: Plausible mechanism for the tandem radical cyclization reaction.
Scheme 61: Visible-light-induced aerobic radical cascade alkylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with alde...
Scheme 62: Plausible mechanism for the aerobic radical alkylarylation of electron-deficient amides.
Scheme 63: Oxidative decarbonylative [3 + 2]/[5 + 2] annulation of N-arylacrylamide with vinyl acids.
Scheme 64: Plausible mechanism for the decarboxylative (3 + 2)/(5 + 2) annulation between N-arylacrylamides an...
Scheme 65: Rhenium-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with PhI(O2CR)2.
Scheme 66: Plausible mechanism for the rhenium-catalyzed decarboxylative annulation of N-arylacrylamides with ...
Scheme 67: Visible-light-induced one-pot tandem reaction of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 68: Plausible mechanism for the visible-light-initiated tandem synthesis of difluoromethylated oxindole...
Scheme 69: Copper-catalyzed redox-neutral cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes with cyclobutanone oxime es...
Scheme 70: Plausible mechanism for the copper-catalyzed cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 71: Photoinduced alkyl/aryl radical cascade for the synthesis of quaternary CF3-attached oxindoles.
Scheme 72: Plausible photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) mechanism.
Scheme 73: Photoinduced cerium-mediated decarboxylative alkylation cascade cyclization.
Scheme 74: Plausible reaction mechanism for the decarboxylative radical-cascade alkylation/cyclization.
Scheme 75: Metal-free oxidative tandem coupling of activated alkenes.
Scheme 76: Control experiments and possible mechanism for 1,2-carbonylarylation of alkenes with carbonyl C(sp2...
Scheme 77: Silver-catalyzed acyl-arylation of activated alkenes with α-oxocarboxylic acids.
Scheme 78: Proposed mechanism for the decarboxylative acylarylation of acrylamides.
Scheme 79: Visible-light-mediated tandem acylarylation of olefines with carboxylic acids.
Scheme 80: Proposed mechanism for the radical cascade cyclization with acyl radical via visible-light photored...
Scheme 81: Erythrosine B-catalyzed visible-light photoredox arylation-cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with ar...
Scheme 82: Electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with arylhydrazines or po...
Scheme 83: Proposed mechanism of radical cascade cyclization via electrochemical cobalt catalysis.
Scheme 84: Copper-catalyzed oxidative tandem carbamoylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with hydrazinecar...
Scheme 85: Proposed reaction mechanism for the radical cascade cyclization by copper catalysis.
Scheme 86: Visible-light-driven radical cascade cyclization reaction of N-arylacrylamides with α-keto acids.
Scheme 87: Proposed mechanism of visible-light-driven cascade cyclization reaction.
Scheme 88: Peroxide-induced radical carbonylation of N-(2-methylallyl)benzamides with methyl formate.
Scheme 89: Proposed cyclization mechanism of peroxide-induced radical carbonylation with N-(2-methylallyl)benz...
Scheme 90: Persulfate promoted carbamoylation of N-arylacrylamides and N-arylcinnamamides.
Scheme 91: Proposed mechanism for the persulfate promoted radical cascade cyclization reaction of N-arylacryla...
Scheme 92: Photocatalyzed carboacylation with N-arylpropiolamides/N-alkyl acrylamides.
Scheme 93: Plausible mechanism for the photoinduced carboacylation of N-arylpropiolamides/N-alkyl acrylamides.
Scheme 94: Electrochemical Fe-catalyzed radical cyclization with N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 95: Plausible mechanism for the electrochemical Fe-catalysed radical cyclization of N-phenylacrylamide.
Scheme 96: Substrate scope of the selective functionalization of various α-ketoalkylsilyl peroxides with metha...
Scheme 97: Proposed reaction mechanism for the Fe-catalyzed reaction of alkylsilyl peroxides with methacrylami...
Scheme 98: EDA-complex mediated C(sp2)–C(sp3) cross-coupling of TTs and N-methyl-N-phenylmethacrylamides.
Scheme 99: Proposed mechanism for the synthesis of oxindoles via EDA complex.
Recent advances in synthetic approaches for bioactive cinnamic acid derivatives
- Betty A. Kustiana,
- Galuh Widiyarti and
- Teni Ernawati
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1031–1086, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.85
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Biologically active cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 1: General synthetic strategies for cinnamic acid derivatizations.
Scheme 2: Cinnamic acid coupling via isobutyl anhydride formation.
Scheme 3: Amidation reaction via O/N-pivaloyl activation.
Scheme 4: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 5: Cinnamic acid amidation using triazine-based reagents.
Scheme 6: Cinnamic acid amidation using continuous flow mechanochemistry.
Scheme 7: Cinnamic acid amidation using COMU as coupling reagent.
Scheme 8: Cinnamic acid amidation using allenone coupling reagent.
Scheme 9: Cinnamic acid amidation using 4-acetamidophenyl triflimide as reagent.
Scheme 10: Cinnamic acid amidation using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTM).
Scheme 11: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing amine–borane reagent.
Scheme 12: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 13: Cinnamic acid amidation using PPh3/I2 reagent.
Scheme 14: Cinnamic acid amidation using PCl3 reagent.
Scheme 15: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing pentafluoropyridine (PFP) as reagent.
Scheme 16: Cinnamic acid amidation using hypervalent iodine(III).
Scheme 17: Mechanochemical amidation using 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-N,N-dimethylamine (TFEDMA) reagent.
Scheme 18: Methyl ester preparation using tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMPP).
Scheme 19: N-Trifluoromethyl amide preparation using isothiocyanate and AgF.
Scheme 20: POCl3-mediated amide coupling of carboxylic acid and DMF.
Scheme 21: O-Alkylation of cinnamic acid using alkylating agents.
Scheme 22: Glycoside preparation via Mitsunobu reaction.
Scheme 23: O/N-Acylation via rearrangement reactions.
Scheme 24: Amidation reactions using sulfur-based alkylating agents.
Scheme 25: Amidation reaction catalyzed by Pd0 via C–N cleavage.
Scheme 26: Amidation reaction catalyzed by CuCl/PPh3.
Scheme 27: Cu(II) triflate-catalyzed N-difluoroethylimide synthesis.
Scheme 28: Cu/Selectfluor-catalyzed transamidation reaction.
Scheme 29: CuO–CaCO3-catalyzed amidation reaction.
Scheme 30: Ni-catalyzed reductive amidation.
Scheme 31: Lewis acidic transition-metal-catalyzed O/N-acylations.
Scheme 32: Visible-light-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 33: Sunlight/LED-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 34: Organophotocatalyst-promoted N–O cleavage of Weinreb amides to synthesize primary amides.
Scheme 35: Cinnamamide synthesis through [Ir] photocatalyst-promoted C–N-bond cleavage of tertiary amines.
Scheme 36: Blue LED-promoted FeCl3-catalyzed reductive transamidation.
Scheme 37: FPyr/TCT-catalyzed amidation of cinnamic acid derivative 121.
Scheme 38: Cs2CO3/DMAP-mediated esterification.
Scheme 39: HBTM organocatalyzed atroposelective N-acylation.
Scheme 40: BH3-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 41: Borane-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 42: Catalytic N-acylation reactions via H/F bonding activation.
Scheme 43: Brønsted base-catalyzed synthesis of cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 44: DABCO/Fe3O4-catalyzed N-methyl amidation of cinnamic acid 122.
Scheme 45: Catalytic oxidation reactions of acylating agents.
Scheme 46: Preparation of cinnamamide-substituted benzocyclooctene using I(I)/I(III) catalysis.
Scheme 47: Pd-colloids-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 48: Graphene-supported Pd/Au alloy-catalyzed oxidative esterification via hemiacetal intermediate.
Scheme 49: Au-supported on A) carbon nanotubes (CNT) and B) on porous boron nitride (pBN) as catalyst for the ...
Scheme 50: Cr-based catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohols with H2O2 as the oxidant.
Scheme 51: Co-based catalysts used for oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 52: Iron (A) and copper (B)-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 53: NiHPMA-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 54: Synthesis of cinammic acid esters through NHC-catalyzed oxidative esterification via intermolecular...
Scheme 55: Redox-active NHC-catalyzed esterification via intramolecular oxidation.
Scheme 56: Electrochemical conversion of cinnamaldehyde to methyl cinnamate.
Scheme 57: Bu4NI/TBHP-catalyzed synthesis of bisamides from cinnamalaldehyde N-tosylhydrazone.
Scheme 58: Zn/NC-950-catalyzed oxidative esterification of ketone 182.
Scheme 59: Ru-catalyzed oxidative carboxylation of terminal alkenes.
Scheme 60: Direct carboxylation of alkenes using CO2.
Scheme 61: Carboxylation of alkenylboronic acid/ester.
Scheme 62: Carboxylation of gem-difluoroalkenes with CO2.
Scheme 63: Photoredox-catalyzed carboxylation of difluoroalkenes.
Scheme 64: Ru-catalyzed carboxylation of alkenyl halide.
Scheme 65: Carboxylation of alkenyl halides under flow conditions.
Scheme 66: Cinnamic acid ester syntheses through carboxylation of alkenyl sulfides/sulfones.
Scheme 67: Cinnamic acid derivatives synthesis through a Ag-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling proceedin...
Scheme 68: Pd-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 69: Fe-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 70: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using CO2.
Scheme 71: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using HCO2H as CO surrogate.
Scheme 72: Co/AlMe3-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarboxylation using DMF.
Scheme 73: Au-catalyzed oxidation of Au–allenylidenes.
Scheme 74: Pd-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of cyclopropenones to synthesize unsaturated esters and amides.
Scheme 75: Ag-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 76: Cu-catalyzed C–C bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 77: PPh3-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 78: Catalyst-free C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 79: Cu-catalyzed dioxolane cleavage.
Scheme 80: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 81: Pd-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of electrophilic alkynes.
Scheme 82: Nickel and cobalt as earth-abundant transition metals used as catalysts for the partial hydrogenati...
Scheme 83: Metal-free-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of conjugated alkynes.
Scheme 84: Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction between triethyl 2-fluoro-2-phosphonoacetate and aldehydes with ei...
Scheme 85: Preparation of E/Z-cinnamates using thiouronium ylides.
Scheme 86: Transition-metal-catalyzed ylide reactions.
Scheme 87: Redox-driven ylide reactions.
Scheme 88: Noble transition-metal-catalyzed olefination via carbenoid species.
Scheme 89: TrBF4-catalyzed olefination via carbene species.
Scheme 90: Grubbs catalyst (cat 7)/photocatalyst-mediated metathesis reactions.
Scheme 91: Elemental I2-catalyzed carbonyl-olefin metathesis.
Scheme 92: Cu-photocatalyzed E-to-Z isomerization of cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 93: Ni-catalyzed E-to-Z isomerization.
Scheme 94: Dehydration of β-hydroxy esters via an E1cB mechanism to access (E)-cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 95: Domino ring-opening reaction induced by a base.
Scheme 96: Dehydroamination of α-aminoester derivatives.
Scheme 97: Accessing methyl cinnamate (44) via metal-free deamination or decarboxylation.
Scheme 98: The core–shell magnetic nanosupport-catalyzed condensation reaction.
Scheme 99: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives from acetic acid esters/amides through α-olefination.
Scheme 100: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives via acceptorless α,β-dehydrogenation.
Scheme 101: Cu-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition.
Scheme 102: Pd-catalyzed C–C bond formation via 1,4-Pd-shift.
Scheme 103: NHC-catalyzed Rauhut–Currier reactions.
Scheme 104: Heck-type reaction for Cα arylation.
Scheme 105: Cu-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of cinnamamide.
Scheme 106: Ru-catalyzed alkenylation of arenes using directing groups.
Scheme 107: Earth-abundant transition-metal-catalyzed hydroarylation of α,β-alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 108: Precious transition-metal-catalyzed β-arylation of cinnamic acid amide/ester.
Scheme 109: Pd-catalyzed β-amination of cinnamamide.
Scheme 110: S8-mediated β-amination of methyl cinnamate (44).
Scheme 111: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynyl esters with phenylsilanes.
Scheme 112: Pd-catalyzed β-cyanation of alkynyl amide/ester.
Scheme 113: Au-catalyzed β-amination of alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 114: Metal-free-catalyzed Cβ-functionalizations of alkynyl esters.
Scheme 115: Heck-type reactions.
Scheme 116: Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions using unconventional functionalized arenes.
Scheme 117: Functional group-directed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 118: Pd nanoparticles-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 119: Catellani-type reactions to access methyl cinnamate with multifunctionalized arene.
Scheme 120: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 121: Single atom Pt-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction.
Scheme 122: Earth-abundant transition metal-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 123: Polymer-coated earth-abundant transition metals-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 124: Earth-abundant transition-metal-based nanoparticles as catalysts for Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 125: CN- and Si-based directing groups to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 126: Amide-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 127: Carbonyl-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 128: Stereoselective preparation of atropisomers via o-selective C(sp2)–H functionalization.
Scheme 129: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 130: para-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 131: Non-directed C(sp2)–H functionalization via electrooxidative Fujiwara–Moritani reaction.
Scheme 132: Interconversion of functional groups attached to cinnamic acid.
Scheme 133: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization of cinnamate ester.
Scheme 134: C(sp2)–F arylation using Grignard reagents.
Scheme 135: Truce–Smiles rearrangement of N-aryl metacrylamides.
Scheme 136: Phosphine-catalyzed cyclization of γ-vinyl allenoate with enamino esters.
Pd-Catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination with isatin using a P,olefin-type chiral ligand with C–N bond axial chirality
- Natsume Akimoto,
- Kaho Takaya,
- Yoshio Kasashima,
- Kohei Watanabe,
- Yasushi Yoshida and
- Takashi Mino
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1018–1023, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.83
- synthesis of spirocyclic compounds [1][2][3]. The nucleophilicity of isatin at the nitrogen atom allows it to participate in reactions such as alkylation [4], arylation [5], and aza-Michael addition [6][7][8]. However, the products obtained from these reactions are primarily achiral or racemic, and only a
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Compound 1 and 2.
Figure 2: Chiral ligands 3–7.
Scheme 1: Preparation and optical resolution of 7.
Scheme 2: Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination of acetate 12 (Ar = Ph) or 15 (Ar = p-ClC6H4) with isatin...
Scheme 3: Transformation of the reaction product (S)-13a: The reaction was carried out at 0.1 mmol scale and ...
Recent total synthesis of natural products leveraging a strategy of enamide cyclization
- Chun-Yu Mi,
- Jia-Yuan Zhai and
- Xiao-Ming Zhang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 999–1009, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.81
- cephalotaxine, cephalezomine H, (−)-cephalotaxine, (−)-cephalotine B, (−)-fortuneicyclidin A, (−)-fortuneicyclidin B, and (−)-cephalocyclidin A. Unlike enamines, tertiary enamides can participate in cyclization reactions initial as nucleophiles, and upon protonation, alkenylation, or alkylation, the resultant
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Reactivity of enamides and enamide cyclizations.
Scheme 1: Total synthesis of (−)-dihydrolycopodine and (−)-lycopodine.
Scheme 2: Collective total synthesis of fawcettimine-type alkaloids.
Scheme 3: Total syntheses of cephalotaxine and cephalezomine H.
Scheme 4: Collective total syntheses of Cephalotaxus alkaloids.
Scheme 5: Asymmetric tandem cyclization/Pictet–Spengler reaction of tertiary enamides.
Scheme 6: Tandem cyclization/Pictet–Spengler reaction for the synthesis of chiral tetracyclic compounds.
Scheme 7: Total synthesis of (−)-cephalocyclidin A.
Studies on the syntheses of β-carboline alkaloids brevicarine and brevicolline
- Benedek Batizi,
- Patrik Pollák,
- András Dancsó,
- Péter Keglevich,
- Gyula Simig,
- Balázs Volk and
- Mátyás Milen
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 955–963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.79
- hydrogenation of the C=C double bond in the side chain gave brevicarine (2). The first total synthesis of brevicarine is shown in Scheme 3 [2][20][21]. Condensation of indole (11) with 1-methylpiperidone (12) gave compound 13 [22]. N-Alkylation of 13 with benzyl bromide, followed by treatment of the quaternary
- -monomethylation of the primary amino group of compound 25 by alkylation with methyl iodide or by Eschweiler–Clarke reductive amination with formaldehyde and formic acid were unsuccessful, because the dimethylated byproduct was also formed, even when one equivalent alkylating agent was used. Finally, our efforts
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: The structure of brevicolline ((S)-1) and brevicarine (2).
Scheme 1: Synthesis of racemic brevicolline ((±)-1) starting from 1-methyl-9H-β-carbolin-4-yl trifluoromethan...
Scheme 2: Synthesis of brevicarine (2) from brevicolline ((S)-1).
Scheme 3: First total synthesis of brevicarine (2).
Scheme 4: Multistep synthesis of brevicarine (2) starting from nitrovinylindole 19.
Scheme 5: New synthesis variants for the preparation of brevicarine alkaloid (2) and its synthetic derivative ...
Scheme 6: Preparation of carbamate 28 and subsequent reduction with LiAlH4.
Scheme 7: Experiments for the synthesis of racemic brevicolline ((±)-1), and formation of unexpected products....
Figure 2: X-ray structure of compound 31.
