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

• synthetic approaches for constructing selenium-containing atropisomers have been reported, such as C–H selenylation of arenes, selenosulfonylation of vinylidene o-quinone methides (VQM), and hydroselenation of alkynes. Nevertheless, a comprehensive review that systematically summarizes these advances is

The high potential of methyl laurate as a recyclable competitor to conventional toxic solvents in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

• Ayhan Yıldırım and
• Mustafa Göker

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2389–2415, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.184

• characteristics, arising from the ester group and the non-polar hydrocarbon chain, respectively. The nitrone contains a polar functional group (N–O) and two aromatic rings, which serve to generate both polar and dispersion forces. Consequently, these findings indicate that fatty acid methyl esters may possess

An Fe(II)-catalyzed synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine] derivatives

• Elizaveta V. Gradova,
• Nikita A. Ozhegov,
• Roman O. Shcherbakov,
• Alexander G. Tkachenko,
• Larisa Y. Nesterova,
• Elena Y. Mendogralo and
• Maxim G. Uchuskin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2383–2388, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.183

• Elizaveta V. Gradova Nikita A. Ozhegov Roman O. Shcherbakov Alexander G. Tkachenko Larisa Y. Nesterova Elena Y. Mendogralo Maxim G. Uchuskin Perm State University, Bukireva St. 15, 614990 Perm, Russian Federation Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center

• under heating furnished chiral spiroindolylpyrroles in excellent yields and enantioselectivity (Scheme 1, path d) [11]. Moreover, a copper-catalyzed reaction of oxindole-derived alkenes with acetophenone O-acetyl oxime has also been employed to construct the spiroindolylpyrrole scaffold (Scheme 1, path

• . For instance, an intramolecular SN2-type cyclization of β-3-indolyl ketone oximes using MsCl and Et₃N affords spiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidines] (Scheme 1, path f) [13]. A subsequent Cu-catalyzed spirocyclization of β-3-indolyl ketone oxime acetates was developed. This process involves homolytic N–O

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

• 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

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

• of the C–O bond “opens” the molecule, generating the corresponding merocyanine (Figure 2). The reverse photocyclization can occur upon exposure to visible light. Remarkably, the two isomers differ in their chemical and physical properties such as polarity, molecular volume, dipole moment

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

• 82, followed by dehydrogenation, delivered compound 83 in 49% yield over three steps. Pyridone 83 could be funneled into pyridine 85 through O-triflation followed by Pd-catalyzed reductive detriflation. Ir-catalyzed meta-selective C–H borylation of 85, followed by bromodeborylation of the pyridine

• pyrrolidine-derived phenyl keto amide substrate 91 with blue LEDs produces the pyrrolidine-fused 4-oxazolidinone (N,O-acetal) 92, precluding preparation of the pyrrolidine analog of lycoplatyrine A (94) by this method. Compound 92 is presumably formed via either the radical mechanism [41] or possibly

• converting the biradical to the corresponding zwitterion; (3) oxy-cyclization to afford the product. This process constitutes an intramolecular redox reaction, wherein the quinone is reduced to a hydroquinone while the proximal C–H bond is oxidized to a C–O bond. Although related photoredox reactions had

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

• glycoluril tetramer-derived acyclic CB[n] (e.g., M1) containing benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene aromatic sidewalls bearing O(CH2)3SO3Na water-solubilizing groups and found that the hosts with larger sidewalls displayed higher affinity toward hydrophobic alicyclic cationic guests [42][43]. Conversely, we

• larger aromatic walls in the form of triphenylene walls. To ensure that the targeted hosts display low aqueous solubility required for solid state sequestrants, we exchanged the O(CH2)3SO3Na groups for OMe groups. Accordingly, we targeted the preparation of W1 and W2 (Scheme 1) which contain large π

• H2O and TFA are also seen in the crystal structure. At one C=O portal, an H2O molecule engages in H-bonding interactions with one C=O group (O···O: 2.948 Å, H···O: 2.149 Å, O–H···O angle: 163.603˚) and one OMe (O···O: 2.963 Å, H···O: 2.169 Å, O–H···O angle: 159.887°) group. The other C=O portal

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

• 157. In 2021, the Zhou group reported a nickel-catalyzed cyclization strategy using N-(o-ethynylaryl)acrylamides as substrates, achieving divergent access to dihydrocyclobuta[c]quinolin-3-ones and benzo[b]azocin-2-ones (Scheme 33) [46]. The reaction pathway was governed by thermal modulation, wherein

• indoles. Geometrical isomeration-dependent cycloisomerization of 1,3-dien-5-ynes. Temperature-controlled cyclization of 1,7-enynes. Cycloisomerizations of n-(o-ethynylaryl)acrylamides through temperature modulation. Temperature-controlled boracyclization of biphenyl-embedded 1,3,5-trien-7-ynes. Funding

Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative arylation of arylhydrazines to access non-symmetric azobenzenes, including tetra-ortho derivatives

• Loris Geminiani,
• Kathrin Junge,
• Matthias Beller and
• Jean-François Soulé

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2234–2242, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.170

• (allyl)]2, XPhos, t-BuONa in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME)) [55]. The reaction outcomes were analyzed with both GC/MS and GC/FID analysis. Under these conditions, we were pleased to find that 1-phenyl-2-(o-tolyl)diazene (3a) was obtained with a GC yield of 50% (Table 1, entry 1). While all starting materials

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

• -involved ureas, annulation of o-arylalkynylanilines, cyclization of 2-ethynylanilines, selenocyclization of diselenides with 2-ethynylanilines as well as C–H indolization of 2-alkynylanilines with 3-functionalized indoles. Isoindolones were synthesized successfully by electrochemical annulation of

• benzamides with terminal alkynes, 5-exo-dig aza-cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzamides as well as reductive cascade annulation of o-alkynylbenzamides. Pyrroles and imidazoles were formed efficiently via electrochemical annulation of alkynes with enamides and tandem Michael addition/azidation/cyclization of

• F and cryptotrione have fused and spiro five-membered rings, respectively [25][26]. Strepsesquitriol bearing bridged five-membered rings was firstly synthesized by Li in 2024 [27]. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) core chromophore (o-LHBDI) displayed a potential application in organic light

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

• 2021, Wang reported the high efficiency of the non-precious bimetallic catalyst Ni–Mn in the selective hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid to 2-butanol in 82.5% yield under 5 MPa H2 at 240 °C (Scheme 76) [241]. The high basicity of the Ni–Mn catalyst results in a good affinity with the C=O or COOH groups

Further elaboration of the stereodivergent approach to chaetominine-type alkaloids: synthesis of the reported structures of aspera chaetominines A and B and revised structure of aspera chaetominine B

• Jin-Fang Lü,
• Jiang-Feng Wu,
• Jian-Liang Ye and
• Pei-Qiang Huang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2072–2081, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.162

• generation of our synthetic strategy to chaetominine-type alkaloids featuring two modifications of the last step of our 4 to 6-step approach. Firstly, by employing EDCI/HOBt as the coupling system for the last step of the one-pot O-debenzylation–lactamization reaction, the overall yield of our previous total

• Improved five-step total synthesis of (–)-isochaetominine A In our recent communication on the synthesis of versiquinazoline H (11) [65], we uncovered that the employment of EDCI/HOBt as the coupling system for the last step, namely, the O-debenzylation–lactamization reaction, afforded much higher yields

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

• natural products of the monocerin-family Early in 1979, monocerin and 7-O-demethylmonocerin were elucidated from Fusarium larvarum [20]. Since then, a large group of analogues have been isolated from diverse fungal species [21][22][23][24][25] (Scheme 2). Along with the structural elucidation, biological

• benzylic oxidation to generate a para-quinone methide (pQM) intermediate. Using fusarentin 6-methyl ether as an example, pQM intermediate 10 would be generated. The C10 alcohol should successively undergo an oxa-Michael addition reaction to close the THF ring, providing 7-O-demethylmonocerin. Similarly

• transformation was successfully achieved by using PhI(OAc)2 as oxidant, providing 7-O-demethylmonocerin, containing the cis-substituted THF ring with sole diastereoselectivity. Site-selective mono-methylation gave rise to monocerin. The bioinspired approach successfully found applications in the total synthesis

Switchable pathways of multicomponent heterocyclizations of 5-amino-1,2,4-triazoles with salicylaldehydes and pyruvic acid

• Yana I. Sakhno,
• Oleksander V. Buravov,
• Kostyantyn Yu. Yurkov,
• Anastasia Yu. Andryushchenko,
• Svitlana V. Shishkina and
• Valentyn A. Chebanov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2030–2035, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.158

• substituted salicylaldehydes are particularly interesting because of the possibility of additional reactions and post-cyclizations involving the o-hydroxy group. It was demonstrated [10][11][12] that the multicomponent reaction of substituted 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles, various salicylaldehydes, and acetone

α-Ketoglutaric acid in Ugi reactions and Ugi/aza-Wittig tandem reactions

• Vladyslav O. Honcharov,
• Yana I. Sakhno,
• Olena H. Shvets,
• Vyacheslav E. Saraev,
• Svitlana V. Shishkina,
• Tetyana V. Shcherbakova and
• Valentyn A. Chebanov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2021–2029, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.157

• Vladyslav O. Honcharov Yana I. Sakhno Olena H. Shvets Vyacheslav E. Saraev Svitlana V. Shishkina Tetyana V. Shcherbakova Valentyn A. Chebanov Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals” of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Nauky

• library of bis- and tetraamides was synthesized by the Ugi reaction with α-ketoglutaric acid, tert-butyl isocyanide, aromatic aldehydes, and aromatic amines. When o-azidoanilines were used, azidated peptidomimetics were obtained, the post-cyclization of which by the aza-Wittig reaction yielded a series of

• prepare new quinoxalinone derivatives, we studied a tandem combination of Ugi/aza-Wittig reactions involving α-ketoglutaric acid and o-azidoanilines. First, 5-((2-arylazido)(1-aryl-2-(tert-butylamino)-2-oxoethyl)amino)-4,5-dioxopentanoic acids 8a,b,d,f–h were synthesized by the reaction of KGA (1

Aryl iodane-induced cascade arylation–1,2-silyl shift–heterocyclization of propargylsilanes under copper catalysis

• Rasma Kroņkalne,
• Rūdolfs Beļaunieks,
• Armands Sebris,
• Anatoly Mishnev and
• Māris Turks

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1984–1994, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.154

• stabilized allyl cation intermediates that undergo regioselective trapping by internal O- and N-nucleophiles furnishing functionalized heterocycles. This method provides access to tetrahydrofuran or pyrrolidine frameworks, each bearing a trifunctionalized (E)-configured vinyl side chain. The use of a shorter

• reaction [17] and a [4 + 2] annulation reaction between o-carboxylic ester-containing diaryl-λ3-iodanes and some terminal alkynes [18]. Looking to expand the possibilities for terminal alkyne carbofunctionalization, we turned our attention to propargylsilanes, which are prone to undergo cationic

• previous work [22]. The internal O-nucleophile-containing starting material, 4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)hex-5-yn-1-ol (7d), was obtained from the commercial hex-5-yn-1-ol by a O-silylation and subsequent retro-Brook reaction sequence [29]. Arylation of silane 7d with 1.2 equiv PhMesIOTf (I-1), 5 mol % CuCl

Photochemical reduction of acylimidazolium salts

• Michael Jakob,
• Nick Bechler,
• Hassan Abdelwahab,
• Fabian Weber,
• Janos Wasternack,
• Leonardo Kleebauer,
• Jan P. Götze and
• Matthew N. Hopkinson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1973–1983, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.153

• research has demonstrated that NHCs are also capable of stabilizing radical or excited-state species [12][13]. In 2020, our group reported the concept of photo-NHC catalysis where direct excitation of acylazolium intermediates generated from o-toluoyl fluoride substrates with UV-A light resulted in a novel

• catalytic photoenolization/Diels–Alder (PEDA) reaction [14][15]. In this process, the NHC fragment present in the acylazolium species influences the absorption wavelength and fundamental photochemical reactivity of the C=O bond, enabling a “ketone-like” photoreaction from otherwise unsuitable carboxylic

• %) and BzO− (43%), additional signals consistent with the O-benzoylated species 3 were identified. This compound was synthesized independently from benzoyl chloride and 1-methylimidazole (see Supporting Information File 1) with spiking of the crude 1H NMR spectrum with the authentic sample confirming the

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

• a single diastereomer (Table 1, entry 4). To explain this diastereoselectivity, we hypothesize that the C–O bond, which occupies an axial position in the proposed transition state TS-1, could avert an additional hyperconjugative interaction (σ*C-O/π) that renders the reacting C=C bond electron

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

• underwent a reductive interrupted Fisher indolization with phenylhydrazine to give indoline 281. To forge the C16 stereocenter and form the C–O bond at C2, diol 282 was prepared from 281 in six steps. Treatment of 282 with MeI/Cs2CO3 induced cyclization through putative indoleninium intermediate 283

Rhodium-catalysed connective synthesis of diverse reactive probes bearing S(VI) electrophilic warheads

• Scott Rice,
• Julian Chesti,
• William R. T. Mosedale,
• Megan H. Wright,
• Stephen P. Marsden,
• Terry K. Smith and
• Adam Nelson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1924–1931, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.150

• -substrates with the potential to react with metal carbenoids in many different ways [14], for example through O–H, N–H or formal C–H insertion, cyclopropanation, or oxazole [20] formation. The 16 co-substrates, selected from available compounds in our laboratory, are shown in Figure 2 (panel A). Many of

• these substrates had more than one potentially reactive site to enable, for example, O–H insertion (C1–5, C8, C11 and C14), N–H insertion (C3, C6, C12, C13 and C15), formal C–H insertion (C1, C3, C4, C12, C15 and C16), oxazole formation (C9 and C10) and cyclopropanation (C7, C10, C14 and C16). To start

• reactions, a product with molecular weight consistent with O–H insertion into water was also observed. For these 18 substrate/co-substrate combinations, the reaction with the highest estimated yield was selected for mass-directed purification (Table 2). In total, 23 intermolecular reaction products were

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

• chemical literature regarding the biological activity (including anticancer properties) of phosphoric esters, reports on biological studies of systems based on the P=O fragment and oxirane skeletons are less common. Nevertheless, systems containing both of the mentioned structural motifs are rarely

• of chlorophosphine oxides (methylphosphonic dichloride MeP(O)Cl2; methyl dichlorophosphate (MeO)P(O)Cl2) and phosphorus oxychloride P(O)Cl3 with racemic glycidol in CH2Cl2 in the presence of KOH as basic agent (Scheme 1). Further filtration and final distillation at low pressure leads to the products

• voltammetric wave, the aqueous solution was actively stirred with a magnetic stirrer in an atmosphere of constant inert gas flow. Starting materials. Methylphosphonic dichloride MeP(O)Cl2 and methyl dichlorophosphate (MeO)P(O)Cl2) [30] were prepared according to literature procedures. Phosphorus oxychloride P

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

• catalytic sites. The OH group on the phosphorus atom functions as a Brønsted acid site, while P=O serves as a Lewis base site, which enables the simultaneous activation of both nucleophiles and electrophiles in one reaction (Figure 1). The chiral properties of the catalysts are derived from the chiral

• macrocyclization strategy [53]. Starting from the linear precursor 60 bearing two triazine moieties, the intramolecular SNAr reaction catalyzed by CPA 13 (30 mol %) led to macrocyclization, which produced the inherently chiral N3,O-calix[2]arene[2]triazines 61 with high enantioselectivity, albeit in moderate yield

• ]arenes displayed a distinctive 1,3-alternate conformation, notably differing from the typical cone conformation of the conventional calix[4]arenes. Moreover, unlike previously documented examples, the inherent chirality of these products arises from the difference of just one heteroatom (O and NH) in the

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

• symmetrical diazocines is more demanding compared to classical azobenzenes since the two aromatic rings are not only connected via an azo-bond, but also have to be linked by an alkyl chain first. For that, more synthetic effort is required. It can be performed through oxidative dimerisation of o-nitrotoluene

• (37) followed by reduction with Zn/Ba(OH)2 and partial re-oxidation (Scheme 12A) [52]. They can also be obtained from o-halogenated benzyl bromides 40 by lithium–halogen exchange followed by nucleophilic substitution and a second lithium–halogen exchange with iodine (Scheme 12B) or by nickel-catalysed

• reaction can also be used to prepare precursors for the Ullman–Goldberg coupling (Scheme 12B and 12C); however, in the presence of halogens, an alternative reduction pathway of the alkene with tosylhydrazine and NaOAc must be used [55]. Hetereodiazocines 35b and 35c are synthesised by coupling of o

[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

• transformations. For example, compound 7e underwent both sulfone formation and S/O atoms exchange in the heterocyclic core. For derivatives 6 and 8, any oxidation conditions resulted in even more complex product mixtures (presumably due to the additional sulfur atom in the second ring), whose structures could not

Research progress on calixarene/pillararene-based controlled drug release systems

• Liu-Huan Yi,
• Jian Qin,
• Si-Ran Lu,
• Liu-Pan Yang,
• Li-Li Wang and
• Huan Yao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1757–1785, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.139