Asymmetric Mannich reaction of aromatic imines with malonates in the presence of multifunctional catalysts

• Kadri Kriis,
• Harry Martõnov,
• Annette Miller,
• Mia Peterson,
• Ivar Järving and
• Tõnis Kanger

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 151–157, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.8

• between the catalyst and the reagents. The chirality of the catalysts is derived from either amino acid or amino alcohols (including cinchona alkaloid derivatives). There are three exceptional structures: catalysts A-H and E-H, which are the hydrogen analogues of the corresponding iodine-containing

Design and synthesis of an axially chiral platinum(II) complex and its CPL properties in PMMA matrix

• Daiki Tauchi,
• Sota Ogura,
• Misa Sakura,
• Kazunori Tsubaki and
• Masashi Hasegawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 143–150, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.7

• increased to 4%. CD spectra showed distinct Cotton effects in the MLCT region, and CPL signals were observed only in the PMMA matrices, with a dissymmetry factor |glum| = 0.4 × 10−3. These results demonstrate that axial chirality of the binaphthyl moiety governs the three-dimensional chiral arrangement of

• two platinum(II) chromophore units, leading to the chiroptical properties in the MLCT region through exciton coupling under restricted molecular motion. Keywords: axial chirality; chiral chemistry; circularly polarized luminescence (CPL); phosphorescence; platinum(II) complex; Introduction

• also from the perspective of fundamental chemistry. In recent years, the design and synthesis of luminescent pincer-type platinum(II) metal complexes incorporating chirality, as well as the study of their physicochemical properties, have gained significant interest [18][19][20][21][22]. Such efforts

Highly electrophilic, gem- and spiro-activated trichloromethylnitrocyclopropanes: synthesis and structure

• Ilia A. Pilipenko,
• Mikhail V. Grigoriev,
• Olga Yu. Ozerova,
• Igor A. Litvinov,
• Darya V. Spiridonova,
• Aleksander V. Vasilyev and
• Sergey V. Makarenko

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 123–130, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.5

• and 9b (1.3:1 dr, according to the 1H NMR spectrum) due to the axial chirality of this molecule. The mixture was easily separated by silica gel column chromatography. Each of the isomers is characterized by the trans-configuration of the nitro- and trichloromethyl groups in the cyclopropane ring (3JH

Total synthesis of natural products based on hydrogenation of aromatic rings

• Haoxiang Wu and
• Xiangbing Qi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 88–122, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.4

• be noted that in the presence of water, the reaction would undergo transamination with the pyridinium nitrogen moiety while inducing chirality on the ring. Hydrogenation of carbocyclic aromatic rings: In 2021, Andersson and co-workers reported a rhodium-catalyst precursor capable of operating in both

• ). During attempts to reduce intermediate 181 via asymmetric hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), the authors found that 181 exists as a racemic mixture, with chirality originating from its axially chiral biaryl structure. Owing to the steric hindrance introduced by substituents, 181 exists as a pair of

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

• reported a stereospecific reduction of an acyloin ring controlled by the chirality of a glucose fragment at position C5, and suggested a possible mechanism for hydrogen migration during the conversion of C5 (sp2) to C5 (sp3). The key 3,4,6-trihydroxycyclohexadienone 76 was obtained by a sequence of Friedel

Rotaxanes with integrated photoswitches: design principles, functional behavior, and emerging applications

• Jullyane Emi Matsushima,
• Khushbu,
• Zuliah Abdulsalam,
• Udyogi Navodya Kulathilaka Conthagamage and
• Víctor García-López

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2345–2366, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.179

• demonstrates that mechanical motion within a rotaxane can propagate molecular-level stereochemical information to the macroscopic organization of soft matter, providing a new strategy for dynamic chirality control in functional materials. Spiropyran When spiropyrans are irradiated with UV light, the breaking

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

• synthesis. Strategies for asymmetric radical reactions Stereoselectivity in radical reactions can be challenging to control. Many radicals are highly reactive, and radicals moreover have typically low inversion barriers, resulting in no permanent chirality at the radical center. Stereochemistry in radical

A m-quaterphenyl probe for absolute configurational assignments of primary and secondary amines

• Yuka Takeuchi,
• Mutsumi Kobayashi,
• Yuuka Gotoh,
• Mari Ikeda,
• Yoichi Habata,
• Tomohiko Shirai and
• Shunsuke Kuwahara

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2211–2219, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.168

• at room temperature [41][42][43]. The central biphenyl moiety of conjugates 2a–h also rotates freely, forming an equilibrium mixture of P and M conformers. The relative amounts of P and M conformers depend on the chirality of the linked amine moieties. Figure 1a shows the UV and CD spectra of the

Electrochemical cyclization of alkynes to construct five-membered nitrogen-heterocyclic rings

• Lifen Peng,
• Ting Wang,
• Zhiwen Yuan,
• Bin Li,
• Zilong Tang,
• Xirong Liu,
• Hui Li,
• Guofang Jiang,
• Chunling Zeng,
• Henry N. C. Wong and
• Xiao-Shui Peng

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2173–2201, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.166

• alkynes bearing heteroatoms such as ynamides and thioalkynes would be enhanced in future research; (2) since axial chirality is critical in natural products and pharmaceuticals, it would be significant to apply the electrochemical annulation of alkynes in formation of organic rings with axial chirality

Bioinspired total syntheses of natural products: a personal adventure

• Zhengyi Qin,
• Yuting Yang,
• Nuran Yan,
• Xinyu Liang,
• Zhiyu Zhang,
• Yaxuan Duan,
• Huilin Li and
• Xuegong She

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2048–2061, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.160

• obtained axial chirality is identical to the naturally occurring one. Almost at the same time, Soorukram and co-workers reported the same approach to access the dibenzocyclooctene member gymnothelignan V [41]. Next, we examined the bioinspired transformation of the linear skeleton to the spirocycle. By

Measuring the stereogenic remoteness in non-central chirality: a stereocontrol connectivity index for asymmetric reactions

• Ivan Keng Wee On,
• Yu Kun Choo,
• Sambhav Baid and
• Ye Zhu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1995–2006, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.155

• remained an intuitive and empirical practice, particularly for reactions that create non-central chirality. We put forward a stereocontrol connectivity index to parameterize asymmetric reactions according to the bond connectivity relationships between the prochiral stereogenic elements, the reactive sites

• , and the stereochemical-defining substituents. The indices can be generated based on analysis of the chemical structures of the starting materials and products, without mechanistic insights of the transformation. Representative examples of reactions that establish point chirality, axial chirality

• , planar chirality, and “inherent chirality” are illustrated using the stereocontrol connectivity index produced following a unified 3-step process. Application of such stereochemical classification could facilitate the development of new synthetic methodologies and catalyst systems to construct diverse

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

• 25 with vinyl butanoate and PPL delivered monoester 26 in 92% yield (99% ee). The axial chirality was transferred to the C7’ stereocenter through a Ag(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of the allenol, constructing the dihydrofuran ring. Lipase-catalyzed ester hydrolysis provided allylic alcohol 27

Synthesis of N-doped chiral macrocycles by regioselective palladium-catalyzed arylation

• Shuhai Qiu and
• Junzhi Liu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1917–1923, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.149

• ; inherent chirality; N-doped macrocycle; nonplanarity; regioselective cyclization; Introduction Chiral macrocycles have attracted significant research interest owing to their diverse applications in enantioselective recognition [1][2], catalysis [3][4], and circularly polarized luminescence [5][6

• ]. Generally, chirality in macrocycles arises from subunits featuring classical chiral elements [7], such as central, axis, planar and helical configurations. In contrast, inherent chirality represents a non-classical phenomenon where chirality emerges from the rigid and nonplanar architecture of macrocycles

• that inherently lacks symmetry [8][9]. One of the most typical representatives are calix[4]arenes (Figure 1a), first reported by Böhmer in 1994 [10], where asymmetric substitutions on the macrocyclic rim induce inherent chirality. Subsequent advancements have identified other inherent chiral systems

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of helically chiral, planarly chiral and inherently chiral molecules

• Wei Liu and
• Xiaoyu Yang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1864–1889, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.145

• .21.145 Abstract Chiral molecules, distinguished by nonsuperimposability with their mirror image, play crucial roles across diverse research fields. Molecular chirality is conventionally categorized into the following types: central chirality, axial chirality, planar chirality and helical chirality, along

• with the more recently introduced inherent chirality. As one of the most prominent chiral organocatalysts, chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysis has proven highly effective in synthesizing centrally and axially chiral molecules. However, its potential in the asymmetric construction of other types of

• molecular chirality has been investigated comparatively less. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent emerging advancements in asymmetric synthesis of planarly chiral, helically chiral and inherently chiral molecules using CPA catalysis, while offering insights into future developments

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

• led to a strong decrease in the thermal half-life, suggesting water is also involved in the Z–E thermal isomerisation process [70]. Bridged indigos have also been reported for which the Z-isomers are unstable. By bridging the two nitrogen atoms, these compounds show planar chirality and can be

Unique halogen–π association detected in single crystals of C–N atropisomeric N-(2-halophenyl)quinolin-2-one derivatives and the thione analogue

• Mai Uchibori,
• Nanami Murate,
• Kanako Shima,
• Tatsunori Sakagami,
• Ko Kanehisa,
• Gary James Richards,
• Akiko Hori and
• Osamu Kitagawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1748–1756, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.138

• the single crystals of racemates significantly differs from that of optically pure forms (chirality-dependent halogen bonding, Figure 1) [20][21]. That is, in crystals of racemic mebroqualone rac-I, heterochiral zig-zag polymer chains, in which (P)-I and (M)-I were alternately connected, were formed

• , ought to have different halogen bonding properties, and should be explored as different chemical entities. Meanwhile, there are very few studies on halogen bonding related to molecular chirality such as those shown in Figure 1 [27][28][29][30]. In addition, the studies on the comparison of

• intermolecular interaction (halogen bonding) between chiral compounds possessing an amide group and a thioamide group are quite rare [21]. We were curious as to whether the chirality (racemate/optically pure form)- and the functional group (C=O/C=S)-dependent halogen bonds found in I and II are also observed in

3,3'-Linked BINOL macrocycles: optimized synthesis of crown ethers featuring one or two BINOL units

• Somayyeh Kheirjou,
• Jan Riebe,
• Maike Thiele,
• Christoph Wölper and
• Jochen Niemeyer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1719–1729, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.134

• ). Keywords: BINOL; chirality; crown ethers; macrocycles; supramolecular chemistry; Introduction Crown ethers are at the heart of supramolecular chemistry [1]. Ever since their discovery in 1960, a vast number of different crown ethers has been synthesized and their interactions with guest molecules have

Catalytic asymmetric reactions of isocyanides for constructing non-central chirality

• Jia-Yu Liao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1648–1660, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.129

• Jia-Yu Liao College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China 10.3762/bjoc.21.129 Abstract Beyond the conventional carbon-centered chirality, catalytic asymmetric transformations of isocyanides have recently emerged as a powerful strategy for the efficient synthesis

• of structurally diverse scaffolds featuring axial, planar, helical, and inherent chirality. Herein, we summarize the exciting achievements in this rapidly evolving field. These elegant examples have been organized and presented based on the reaction type as well as the resulting chirality form

• . Additionally, we provide a perspective on the current limitations and future opportunities, aiming to inspire further advances in this area. Keywords: axial chirality; helical chirality; inherent chirality; isocyanide; planar chirality; Introduction Chirality represents a fundamental property of molecules

Synthesis of optically active folded cyclic dimers and trimers

• Ena Kumamoto,
• Kana Ogawa,
• Kazunori Okamoto and
• Yasuhiro Morisaki

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1603–1612, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.124

• observed between the dimer and trimer, despite the same absolute configuration of the planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane units, which was reproduced by theoretical studies. Keywords: circularly polarized luminescence; oligomer; [2.2]paracyclophane; planar chirality; Introduction Cyclophane is a general

• molecular structure with stacked π-electron clouds [1][4][5][6]. The distance between benzene rings in [2.2]paracyclophane is extremely short (2.8–3.1Å), and thus the rotational motion of benzene rings is completely suppressed; therefore, planar chirality without chiral centers [7] appears by introducing

• above, the experimental CD and CPL signs of (Sp)-6 and (Sp)-7 were reproduced by the TD-DFT calculations. Molecular orbitals of (Sp)-6 involved in the CPL are obviously curved and twisted, resulting in the opposite chiroptical signs. Twisted chirality is known to result in CPL of π-conjugated molecules

pH-Controlled isomerization kinetics of ortho-disubstituted benzamidines: E/Z isomerism and axial chirality

• Ryota Kimura,
• Satoshi Ichikawa and
• Akira Katsuyama

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1568–1576, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.120

Wittig reaction of cyclobisbiphenylenecarbonyl

• Taito Moribe,
• Junichiro Hirano,
• Hideaki Takano,
• Hiroshi Shinokubo and
• Norihito Fukui

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1454–1461, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.107

• formation between carbonyl and alkene units. Keywords: bathtub; chirality; cyclobisbiphenylenecarbonyl; figure-eight; Wittig reaction; Introduction Figure-eight π-conjugated molecules represent chiral macrocycles with a twisted crossover structure [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15

• (P,P)-1, whose configuration was previously confirmed [17]. The (P,P)-figure-eight conformation of CBBC 1 corresponds to the (Ra,Ra)-bathtub conformation, whose configuration is based on the axial chirality of the biaryl segment. Consequently, the 1st fractions of 3 and 5 were determined to be (Sa,Sa

• circle and red triangle mean selected signals due to figure-eight and bathtub conformations, respectively. Simulated dynamics of bis-olefin 5 at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The description for the configuration of A and B are based on the helical chirality of the 1,1-diphenylethylene units and

Advances in nitrogen-containing helicenes: synthesis, chiroptical properties, and optoelectronic applications

• Meng Qiu,
• Jing Du,
• Nai-Te Yao,
• Xin-Yue Wang and
• Han-Yuan Gong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1422–1453, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.106

• helical architectures, have attracted considerable attention due to their intrinsic chirality and tunable optoelectronic properties. Among them, nitrogen-doped helicenes (azahelicenes) and their heteroatom-co-doped counterparts – such as B/N-, O/N-, S/N-, and Se/N-doped helicenes – have emerged as highly

• systems – has granted access to increasingly complex helicene frameworks with well-defined chirality. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in the synthesis, structural engineering, and chiroptical performance of nitrogen-doped helicenes and their heteroatom-doped derivatives

• ; optoelectronic applications; Introduction Helicenes, a class of non-planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons characterized by ortho-fused aromatic rings forming a helical framework, have attracted significant attention due to their inherent chirality, unique optoelectronic properties, and wide-ranging

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

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

• Education, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan Molecular Chirality Research Center, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan Soft Molecular Activation Research Center, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan Institute for

• the resulting product (S)-13a in the presence of FeCl3 as the catalyst, the corresponding malononitrile derivative (S)-16 was obtained without any loss in optical purity. Keywords: asymmetric allylic amination; axial chirality; isatin; palladium catalysis; P,olefin-type chiral ligand; Introduction

• ligands with axial chirality for Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. For example, the Zhou group reported a P,olefin-type chiral ligand 3 with C–C bond axial chirality for this reaction (Figure 2) [27]. Additionally, we have recently reported chiral ligands with C–N bond axial

On the photoluminescence in triarylmethyl-centered mono-, di-, and multiradicals

• Daniel Straub,
• Markus Gross,
• Mona E. Arnold,
• Julia Zolg and
• Alexander J. C. Kuehne

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 964–998, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.80

• the donor molecule might lead to reduced electron–electron repulsion in the extended systems improving the emission characteristics [66]. Circularly polarized photoluminescence The TTM-DNC and TTM-DPC with their helical donors are chiral and can be separated for the axial chirality of the helicene

• donor unit (see Figure 11). Chiral chromatography provides access to all four stereoisomers, as both, the helicene and the TTM unit, are chiral (as discussed above). However, the TTM propellers racemize quickly so that effectively one receives the diastereomers with the respective helicene chirality