Synthesis and characterization of a isothiouronium-calix[4]arene derivative: self-assembly and anticancer activity

• Giuseppe Granata,
• Loredana Ferreri,
• Claudia Giovanna Leotta,
• Giovanni Mario Pitari and
• Grazia Maria Letizia Consoli

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2535–2541, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.195

• mechanisms including elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or interference with redox homeostasis, and inhibition of kinase or topoisomerase activities essential for cancer cell proliferation. The selective activity of thiouronium salts against cancer cells compared to non-malignant cells can be related

Effect of a photoswitchable rotaxane on membrane permeabilization across lipid compositions

• Udyogi N. K. Conthagamage,
• Lilia Lopez,
• Zuliah A. Abdulsalam and
• Víctor García-López

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2498–2512, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.192

• azobenzene photoswitching, which is supported by MD simulations [15]. Therefore, rotaxane 1 and axle 3 permeabilize membranes through distinct mechanisms. Effect of macrocycle localization The macrocycle with the azobenzene photoswitches in rotaxane 1 can translate and be localized in either of the ammonium

• photochemical process in axle 3, and the diminished effect in rotaxane 2, indicate that release in these systems occurs through different mechanisms. Moreover, our data indicate that the localization of the macrocycle along the axle can lead to variations in release. For rotaxane 4, where the macrocycle is

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

• phenyl-substituted benzoisoquinoline derivatives. Two plausible reaction mechanisms were proposed in the study: one involving oxidative addition of Int 4, a five-membered rhodium cyclic intermediate, followed by reductive elimination and the other proceeding via a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution

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

• ]. Notably, the anion-binding performance of these macrocycles is inherently governed by their conformational dynamics [9][10]. Flexible hosts adaptively adjust their cavities via induced-fit mechanisms to accommodate diverse guests, while rigid hosts rely on preorganized spatial complementarity for

• interplay between conformational selection and induced-fit mechanisms in isomeric systems remains underexplored. Cram’s preorganization theory [13] posits that prestructured hosts with minimized solvation exhibit enhanced binding stability. Recent advances [14][15][16] highlight the pivotal role of

• molecular level of the dynamic regulation mechanisms of conformations [19][20]. Although the influence of conformational dynamics on molecular recognition has been paid attention to, there is still a gap in the comparative study of flexible (PBG) and rigid (WDG) structural analogs of the same framework. In

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

• shuttling dynamics. In this review, we discuss key examples of photoswitchable rotaxanes, organized according to the position of the photoswitch, either embedded in the axle or incorporated into the macrocycle. We examine the major classes of photoswitches used, including their switching mechanisms and the

• , spirobenzopyran, stilbene and stiff-stilbene (Figure 2). Systems whose photoinduced behavior primarily depends on photoredox or energy-transfer mechanisms fall outside the scope of this review. Review Rotaxanes featuring photoswitches on the axle Rotaxanes that incorporate photoswitchable units into the axle are

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

• review, drawing on examples from recently reported natural product syntheses, elaborates on reaction mechanisms, factors governing regioselectivity and stereoselectivity, and the impact of substrate structures on reaction pathways. These reactions not only serve as robust tools for the streamlined

• manipulations. Notably, under Mitsunobu conditions, 23 – with its C9 ketal remaining intact – led to 28 and 29 in 40% total yield, with a 1:2.5 ratio favoring the undesired regioisomer 29 (Scheme 5a). These two isomers arise from SN2 and SN2' mechanisms, respectively. Furthermore, when 30 (bearing a saturated

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

• trapped intermediate 152, affording alkylidenecyclopentenes 153 with high diastereoselectivity (Scheme 31, path b). By clarifying E/Z-configuration-dependent cyclization mechanisms, this work introduced the gold(I)-catalyzed 5-exo-dig cyclization of 1,3-dien-5-ynes, gaining insights into regioselective

Research towards selective inhibition of the CLK3 kinase

• Vinay Kumar Singh,
• Frédéric Justaud,
• Dabbugoddu Brahmaiah,
• Nangunoori Sampath Kumar,
• Blandine Baratte,
• Thomas Robert,
• Stéphane Bach,
• Chada Raji Reddy,
• Nicolas Levoin and
• René L. Grée

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2250–2259, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.172

• kinases” because of the lack of functional annotations and high-quality molecular probes for functional investigations [7][8]. Thus, new studies are still required for the discovery of selective inhibitors for each of these kinases in order to better clarify their mechanisms of action and their roles in

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

• reaction mechanisms are disclosed if available. Keywords: alkyne; catalysis; cyclization; electrochemistry; five-membered ring; Introduction Organic five-membered rings, an essential class of organic compounds, not only are frequently used as important starting materials, intermediates or ligands in

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

Solar thermal fuels: azobenzene as a cyclic photon–heat transduction platform

• Jie Yan,
• Shaodong Sun,
• Minghao Wang and
• Si Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2036–2047, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.159

• temperature and the Tm of the isomerized cis-azobenzene is below room temperature, while others require solvent-assisted charging mechanisms [70][71]. This structural and functional diversity makes them particularly valuable for solar thermal storage applications. Feng et al. incorporated fluorinated

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

• combined with state-of-the-art multireference quantum mechanical calculations to understand the photophysical properties and mechanisms of these diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes. The energetically accessible lowest excitations are nNN(σCN) → π* and range from 3.94–3.97 eV. From the >292 trajectories, the

• ][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78] mechanisms of cyclic azoalkenes have been studied with experimental and computational techniques for more than six decades, in solution [51][55][59][60][61][64][67][69][70][73][74][75][76][78][79], gas phase [50][55][62][64][65], and solid state [60][63

• light source. Electronic transitions to these excited states are impossible in the experiment and thus will not be considered for this photochemical mechanistic study. DBH photodenitrogenation mechanism We then turned our attention to the photochemical reaction mechanisms leading to the formation of

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

• reaction mechanisms. Particularly, the application to reactions that establish non-central chirality allows a numeric measurement of the stereogenic remoteness – an intrinsic property of non-central chirality reflected by the large values of the indices (i ≥ 3). We anticipate that application of the

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

• offer many synthetic advantages while the wide availability of chiral NHCs can also allow for high levels of enantioselectivity. As effective enamine and active ester derivatives, Breslow and acylazolium intermediates A and B typically react via classical two-electron polar mechanisms, however, recent

• an O-benzoylated intermediate species also being obtained under some conditions. Supported by TD-DFT studies, plausible reaction mechanisms for both processes were proposed. Moreover, further investigations employing silicon-containing additives allowed for an increase in the reduction yield beyond

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

• reaction mechanisms and applications of the chiral products for selected examples. Review Helical chirality Helicenes are a group of rigid polycyclic aromatic compounds composed of ortho-fused aromatic (hetero)cyclic rings, with their helically twisted conformation enforced by steric hindrance between

Systematic pore lipophilization to enhance the efficiency of an amine-based MOF catalyst in the solvent-free Knoevenagel reaction

• Pricilla Matseketsa,
• Margret Kumbirayi Ruwimbo Pagare and
• Tendai Gadzikwa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1854–1863, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.144

• ×20 magnification. Right: ratios of BMN:HPMM products for each catalyst. Probable mechanisms for the Knoevenegel condensation reaction between benzaldehyde and malononitrile catalyzed by a MOF-immobilized amine to form benzylidenemalononitrile (BMN). A) Mechanism in which the amine catalyst first

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

• explain the important terminology and discuss the synthesis, switching mechanisms, and properties of seven interesting photoswitch classes, namely azoheteroarenes, diazocines, indigoid photoswitches, arylhydrazones, diarylethenes, fulgides, and spiropyrans. Keywords: photoswitches; photoswitch properties

• ; synthesis of photoswitches; switching mechanisms; tutorial review; Introduction Photophysical properties and switching mechanism Key learning points Switching mechanisms and the change in properties. Overview of the major classes of photoswitches beyond azobenzenes. Main synthetic pathways for their

• absence of light. Apart from some special cases where more competing mechanisms are operating [5], the thermal isomerisation typically is a first-order decay: Where I is the monitored signal at the time t, I0 the initial signal, and k the kinetic constant. Once k is known, the thermal half-life t1/2 can

Fe-catalyzed efficient synthesis of 2,4- and 4-substituted quinolines via C(sp²)–C(sp²) bond scission of styrenes

• Prafull A. Jagtap,
• Manish M. Petkar,
• Vaishnavi R. Sawant and
• Bhalchandra M. Bhanage

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1799–1807, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.142

• [18]. Due to its wide range of applications, several methods for synthesizing substituted quinoline derivatives have been developed in recent decades, based on mechanisms such as Conrad–Limpach–Knorr [19], Friedländer [20], Doebner−Miller [21], Pfitzinger [22], Skraup [23], Povarov [24], and Combes

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

• categorizes supramolecular chemistry-based drug-controlled release systems into the following three mechanisms: (1) Drugs are identified and combined with supramolecular hosts through host–guest interactions [23][24][25][26][27][28]. By adjusting the conditions surrounding the guest molecules, such as changes

• mechanisms that will be detailed in this article, researchers have made progress in the transport of amino acids and molecular peptides across membranes using macrocycles in recent years [35][36][37]. These works have paved the way for the potential application of remote-controlled membrane transport

• , enzymatic activity, hypoxia-triggered, and multi-responsive triggers. This article, based on the mechanisms of host–guest recognition, multifunctional assembly, and supramolecular nano-valves, provides several representative examples of CAs and PAs in the field of drug-controlled release. Finally, 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

• nitration compounds while inherently mitigating process hazards through intrinsic safety mechanisms. It is critical to clarify that although continuous-flow nitration processes have been extensively documented for a long time, the flow-chemistry technology discussed here primarily addresses small and

• advancements in flow-chemistry applications for nitration processes, this work establishes a practical framework to guide researchers in developing continuous-flow nitration systems. The analysis facilitates rapid understanding of fundamental principles and operational mechanisms governing continuous nitration

• aliphatic counterparts) due to their predictable electrophilic substitution mechanisms and relatively mild reaction conditions, which enable superior controllability and regioselectivity. Unlike aromatic nitrations that predominantly follow ionic mechanisms, aliphatic systems governed by free radical

Structural analysis of stereoselective galactose pyruvylation toward the synthesis of bacterial capsular polysaccharides

• Tsun-Yi Chiang,
• Mei-Huei Lin,
• Chun-Wei Chang,
• Jinq-Chyi Lee and
• Cheng-Chung Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1671–1677, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.131

• reaction mechanisms. Through this project, we aimed to explore the practical applications of PS A1 while simultaneously enhancing our understanding of synthetic chemistry. This endeavor reflects our commitment to advancing chemical knowledge and contributing to ongoing research in the field. Next, in-depth

Transition-state aromaticity and its relationship with reactivity in pericyclic reactions

• Israel Fernández

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1613–1626, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.125

• ) of the butadiene + ethylene reaction proceeds with a lower barrier (up to 7 kcal/mol) than the corresponding stepwise pathway leading to a diradical intermediate (Scheme 1a) [19][20]. Similar preferences for concerted pathways over stepwise mechanisms were also found for dipolar cycloadditions and

• concerted mechanisms has not been considered. For instance, very little is known about the influence of TS-aromaticity (if any) on the barrier heights of catalyzed pericyclic reactions and related transformations. Our group has been focused on this aspect in recent years by exploring the interplay between

3-Aryl-2H-azirines as annulation reagents in the Ni(II)-catalyzed synthesis of 1H-benzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-b]pyrroles

• Julia I. Pavlenko,
• Pavel A. Sakharov,
• Anastasiya V. Agafonova,
• Derenik A. Isadzhanyan,
• Alexander F. Khlebnikov and
• Mikhail S. Novikov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1595–1602, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.123

• mechanisms of the formation of azirindine 16 under Ni(II)- and Cu(I)-catalysis. Oxidative dimerization of non-aromatic cyclic enols has been previously observed in their reactions with 3-arylazirines catalyzed by Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes and was attributed to the recombination of intermediate free radicals

Azobenzene protonation as a tool for temperature sensing

• Antti Siiskonen,
• Sami Vesamäki and
• Arri Priimagi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1528–1534, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.115

• -dichloroethane and highlight its potential for temperature sensing applications. Density functional theory calculations were performed to support our findings and to investigate the mechanisms of azobenzene–acid interactions, aiming to guide the design of azobenzene-based temperature sensors in future research

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

• group (Figure S20, Supporting Information File 1), which will be due to the disrupted nucleophilic attack to the carbonyl group by the intramolecular steric repulsion toward the Bürgi–Dunitz angle. However, alternative mechanisms initiated by a conventional oxaphosphetane formation cannot not yet be