Visible-light-driven NHC and organophotoredox dual catalysis for the synthesis of carbonyl compounds

• Vasudevan Dhayalan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2584–2603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.200

• ; NHC; organic photocatalyst; radicals; visible-light; Introduction Over the last ten years, NHC-catalyzed visible-light-promoted radical chemistry has been extensively developed for the cost-effective and practical synthesis of bioactive intermediates, pharmaceuticals, drugs, and natural products [1

• continued integration of this versatile photocatalytic platform with sustainable methods such as visible-light harvesting and the use of earth-abundant catalysts is expected to further enhance its impact across diverse research fields, including chemical biology, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers

• mild conditions, using sustainable methods with low-cost materials, and using non-toxic reagents. Its proven potential includes medicinal chemistry, pharmaceuticals, materials science, and the late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. Recent synthetic advances in methodology

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of selenium-containing atropisomers via C–Se bond formations

• Qi-Sen Gao,
• Zheng-Wei Wei and
• Zhi-Min Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2447–2455, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.186

• Atropisomers are not only prevalent in biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals, but they have also garnered increasing attention for their effectiveness as ligands and catalysts in the field of catalytic asymmetric synthesis. Asymmetric catalysis serves as a key strategy for the

Insoluble methylene-bridged glycoluril dimers as sequestrants for dyes

• Suvenika Perera,
• Peter Y. Zavalij and
• Lyle Isaacs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2302–2314, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.176

• textile, leather, paint, plastic, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food industries [4]. It has been estimated that about 7 × 106 tons of dyes (e.g., methylene blue, rhodamine B, methyl orange, Congo red, disperse violet 26, methyl red, crystal violet) are produced annually worldwide [5]. Many dyes are

• functionalized and can flex their methylene-bridged glycoluril oligomer to accommodate guests of different size. Water-soluble acyclic CB[n] have been used as in vivo sequestrants for drugs of abuse, neuromuscular blockers, and anesthetics and as solubilizing agents for pharmaceuticals [31][32][33][34][35][36

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

• significant reaction, 1,n-enyne cyclization is capable of constructing a variety of complex small-molecule frameworks, including fused and bridged rings, thereby serving as a potent tool in the syntheses of natural products and pharmaceuticals. Our group has pioneered the concept of "pathway economy" by

Thiadiazino-indole, thiadiazino-carbazole and benzothiadiazino-carbazole dioxides: synthesis, physicochemical and early ADME characterization of representatives of new tri-, tetra- and pentacyclic ring systems and their intermediates

• Gyöngyvér Pusztai,
• László Poszávácz,
• Anna Vincze,
• András Marton,
• Ahmed Qasim Abdulhussein,
• Judit Halász,
• András Dancsó,
• Gyula Simig,
• György Tibor Balogh and
• Balázs Volk

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2220–2233, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.169

• Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary Egis Pharmaceuticals Plc., Directorate of Drug Substance Development, P.O. Box 100, H-1475 Budapest, Hungary Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre u. 9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary Ambimass Ltd., Záhony u

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

• of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China 10.3762/bjoc.21.166 Abstract Organic five-membered rings have shown significant applications in the fields of organic synthesis, natural products, organic materials and pharmaceuticals for their unique

• organic synthesis [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] but also are critical moieties in natural products [15][16][17][18], organic materials [19] and pharmaceuticals [20][21][22][23][24] due to their unique chemical, electrical, optical, pharmacological and biological properties. Gracilioether

• 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

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

• -designed Pd@S-1 and H-beta zeolite catalytic system, exhibiting high resistance to coking in presence of NH3. Subsequent carboxylation with CO2 and hydrogenation over Rh/C as catalyst led to racemic proline, an important precursor for pharmaceuticals, in quantitative yield. ᴅ-Proline was then obtained in

• , pharmaceuticals or high added value chemicals [215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222][223]. Its first commercial production began in the 1940s. Its preparation from biomass involves several different possible pathways. One is the C5 sugar route starting from xylose as an example, relying on acid hydrolysis of

• , amides, lactones, acrylic acid, etc. (Scheme 72) and is therefore a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other specialty chemicals. Levulinate esters, used as a solvent or as biofuels, are obtained by esterification under acid catalysis, e.g., with a sulfuric acid

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

• important in pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and advanced materials due to their unique stereogenic scaffolds and associated properties. Consequently, synthetic chemists have been pursuing molecules featuring these forms of non-central chirality, where the stereogenic elements are not localized on a single

Thermodynamics and polarity-driven properties of fluorinated cyclopropanes

• Matheus P. Freitas

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1742–1747, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.137

• to modulate properties that enhance the performance of pharmaceuticals and materials. This quantum-chemical study explores the energetic implications of fluorinating cyclopropane, providing insights into molecular characteristics arising from the polar C–F bond. Isodesmic reactions revealed that the

• prevents ring interconversion, unlike its larger analogs. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals and has attracted significant interest in medicinal chemistry, particularly when fluorinated [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The highly polar C–F bond in fluorinated cyclopropanes destabilizes the ring and alters its overall

• intramolecular forces in fluorinated systems but also provide a molecular framework for the design of advanced applications. Fluorinated cyclopropanes exhibit considerable potential in pharmaceuticals, where polarity influences drug solubility and activity, and in material sciences, particularly for the

Continuous-flow-enabled intensification in nitration processes: a review of technological developments and practical applications over the past decade

• Feng Zhou,
• Chuansong Duanmu,
• Yanxing Li,
• Jin Li,
• Haiqing Xu,
• Pan Wang and
• Kai Zhu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1678–1699, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.132

• closely tied to the application fields of the resulting nitration compounds, with significant variations in production demands across industries. For high-value, low-volume sectors such as flavors and fragrances and pharmaceuticals, typical production scales fall within tens to hundreds of tons per year

Influence of the cation in hypophosphite-mediated catalyst-free reductive amination

• Natalia Lebedeva,
• Fedor Kliuev,
• Olesya Zvereva,
• Klim Biriukov,
• Evgeniya Podyacheva,
• Maria Godovikova,
• Oleg I. Afanasyev and
• Denis Chusov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1661–1670, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.130

• of the most actively applied reductants with phosphorus-hydrogen bond in industry, for example, in production of polymers [1], pharmaceuticals [2], electroless plating [3], metal corrosion prevention [4] and even food preservation [5]. NaH2PO2 is a non-toxic (LD50 7640 mg/kg – rat) (SDS Thermo Fisher

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

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

Synthesis of β-ketophosphonates through aerobic copper(II)-mediated phosphorylation of enol acetates

• Alexander S. Budnikov,
• Igor B. Krylov,
• Fedor K. Monin,
• Valentina M. Merkulova,
• Alexey I. Ilovaisky,
• Liu Yan,
• Bing Yu and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1192–1200, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.96

• [1][2][3][4][5] due to the numerous applications of phosphorus-containing compounds in pharmaceuticals, biology, agrochemistry, organic synthesis, and materials science [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Among various organophosphorus compounds, β-ketophosphonates have received particular attention for

Enhancing chemical synthesis planning: automated quantum mechanics-based regioselectivity prediction for C–H activation with directing groups

• Julius Seumer,
• Nicolai Ree and
• Jan H. Jensen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1171–1182, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.94

• molecular architectures in pharmaceuticals, polymers, and agrochemicals. Despite advancements in directing group (DG) methodologies and computational approaches, predicting accurate regioselectivity in C–H activation poses significant difficulties due to the diversity and complexity of organic compounds

• bonds in organic chemicals. Therefore, their selective functionalization is essential for advancing the synthesis of complex molecules like pharmaceuticals, polymers, or agrochemicals [1][2][3]. Advancements in organometallic catalysis have facilitated significant progress in this area through C–H

A multicomponent reaction-initiated synthesis of imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones

• Ashutosh Nath,
• John Mark Awad and
• Wei Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1161–1169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.92

• imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones. The Veljkovic group employed methyl 2-formylbenzoate for the GBB reaction to form adducts I which undergoes intramolecular amidation to afford product A (Scheme 1A) [16]. In a patent filed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, substituted alkyl isonitriles were used for the GBB

Salen–scandium(III) complex-catalyzed asymmetric (3 + 2) annulation of aziridines and aldehydes

• Linqiang Wang and
• Jiaxi Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1087–1094, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.86

• -containing five-membered saturated heterocycles. They are not only useful building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active compounds [1], for example, side-chain precursor of paclitaxel [2], but also widely exist in some pharmaceuticals [3][4], such as antibacterial agents of Gram-positive organisms

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-diones by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination reactions

• Ruben Manuel Figueira de Abreu,
• Robin Tiedemann,
• Peter Ehlers and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1010–1017, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.82

• to develop novel pharmaceuticals with improved biological properties. For instance, pemetrexed (F) is administered during palliative chemotherapy for advanced lung cancers [12]. Immucillin H (G) is currently in late clinical phases for the treatment of haematologic diseases, such as acute T-cell

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

• Pharmaceuticals Plc., Directorate of Drug Substance Development, P. O. Box 100, Keresztúri út 30-38, H-1475 Budapest, Hungary Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre utca 7, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary Center for Pharmacology and Drug Research & Development

Recent advances in controllable/divergent synthesis

• Jilei Cao,
• Leiyang Bai and
• Xuefeng Jiang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 890–914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.73

• successfully applied in the synthesis of complex natural products, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials, often streamlining multistep sequences and minimizing protecting-group strategies [50][51]. In 2016, Li and co-workers developed divergent coupling conditions for iminamides 77 with receptor-type diazo

Regioselective formal hydrocyanation of allenes: synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated nitriles with α-all-carbon quaternary centers

• Seeun Lim,
• Teresa Kim and
• Yunmi Lee

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 800–806, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.63

• catalysis; hydrocyanation; regioselectivity; tosyl cyanide; Introduction Acyclic nitriles that incorporate α-all-carbon quaternary centers are highly valuable structural motifs typically found in natural products, biologically active compounds, and synthetic pharmaceuticals [1][2][3][4][5]. These compounds

Recent advances in allylation of chiral secondary alkylcopper species

• Minjae Kim,
• Gwanggyun Kim,
• Doyoon Kim,
• Jun Hee Lee and
• Seung Hwan Cho

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 639–658, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.51

• arrangements. The ability to precisely control multiple contiguous stereogenic centers would significantly expand the synthetic utility of such transformations, particularly in the synthesis of complex molecules such as natural products and pharmaceuticals [60]. Furthermore, future efforts could also focus on

Unraveling aromaticity: the dual worlds of pyrazole, pyrazoline, and 3D carborane

• Zahra Noori,
• Miquel Solà,
• Clara Viñas,
• Francesc Teixidor and
• Jordi Poater

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 412–420, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.29

• , exceptional thermal and chemical stability, and robust synthetic versatility [16][17] – make carborane derivatives essential components in various fields. These include pharmaceuticals [18][19][20][21][22], boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) [23][24][25][26], organometallic ligands [27], and functional

The effect of neighbouring group participation and possible long range remote group participation in O-glycosylation

• Rituparna Das and
• Balaram Mukhopadhyay

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 369–406, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.27

• huge interest in the study of ‘Glycomics’ or ‘Carbohydrate Chemistry.’ These truly elevated the recognition of carbohydrates from being mere building blocks to a frontier research topic towards the development of drugs and pharmaceuticals [12][13], diagnostic tools [14], artificial sweeteners [15

Visible-light-promoted radical cyclisation of unactivated alkenes in benzimidazoles: synthesis of difluoromethyl- and aryldifluoromethyl-substituted polycyclic imidazoles

• Yujun Pang,
• Jinglan Yan,
• Nawaf Al-Maharik,
• Qian Zhang,
• Zeguo Fang and
• Dong Li

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 234–241, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.15

• pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals nowadays, largely due to the unique ability of fluorinated groups to influence the physicochemical and biochemical properties of molecules [1][2][3]. Among the various fluorinated functionalities, the difluoromethyl (CF2H) group and its aryl-substituted derivative, the benzylic