Origami with small molecules: exploiting the C–F bond as a conformational tool

• Patrick Ryan,
• Ramsha Iftikhar and
• Luke Hunter

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 680–716, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.54

• (III, Figure 11) [149]. These effects have been exploited to control the conformations of simple bioactive amines such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 86, Figure 11) [150][151][152][153][154][155]. GABA is a neurotransmitter that binds to a variety of different GABA receptors, and information about the

• target-binding conformations of GABA at these various receptors can be gleaned by investigating fluorinated GABA analogues (e.g., 87–90). For example, the enantiomeric analogues 87 and 88 have similar activity at the GABAA receptor, and this suggests that the binding conformation of GABA has an extended

• whereas the difluorinated analogue 90 has some activity, and this suggests that the binding conformation of GABA has a bent C–C–C–C(O) segment since this conformation is disfavoured for 89 and favoured for 90 [151]. The β-fluoroamine gauche preference has been exploited to control the shapes, and hence to

Synthesis of extended fluorinated tripeptides based on the tetrahydropyridazine scaffold

• Thierry Milcent,
• Pascal Retailleau,
• Benoit Crousse and
• Sandrine Ongeri

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3174–3181, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.262

• , the tetrahydropyridazines, six-atom nitrogenous heterocycles, are found in various bioactive molecules such as influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors, GABA type A receptor modulators, and regulators of progesterone receptor or cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists (Figure 1) [6][7][8][9]. This

2-Heteroarylethylamines in medicinal chemistry: a review of 2-phenethylamine satellite chemical space

• Carlos Nieto,
• Alejandro Manchado,
• Ángel García-González,
• David Díez and
• Narciso M. Garrido

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1880–1893, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.163

• a heteroaromatic ring bound to the C3 position of the GABA chain is well tolerated for activity. Thiophenes: Back to the MAO-A scenario, Vallejo et al. [14] also developed thienyl-substituted isopropylamines 13–16, which were found to bind to MAO-A with IC50 values in the micromolar range with

Challenge N- versus O-six-membered annulation: FeCl₃-catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic N,O-aminals

• Giacomo Mari,
• Lucia De Crescentini,
• Gianfranco Favi,
• Fabio Mantellini,
• Diego Olivieri and
• Stefania Santeusanio

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1412–1420, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.123

• related to Ewing sarcoma [8], IGF-1 receptor inhibitors [9] or act as ligands on corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) [10], γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) [11] and melanocortin receptors [12]. Given the established potencies of this class of N-ring-fused compounds, planned syntheses that simplify their

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble C₆₀–peptide conjugates

• Yue Ma,
• Lorenzo Persi and
• Yoko Yamakoshi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 777–786, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.71

• (GABA) at the N-terminus of the Lys pentamer peptide on resin. Using the optimal reaction conditions, three types of hydrophilic peptide pentamers on resin, oligo-Lys (2a), oligo-Glu (2b), and oligo-Arg (2c), were subjected to the reaction with 3 for the synthesis of C60–peptide conjugates 5a–c (Figure

• on resin, a GABA residue was attached to the N-terminus of the peptide in order to provide a less-hindered primary amine, enabling an efficient amide conjugation reaction with biscarboxylic acid-substituted C60 derivative 3. Compound 3 was prepared by Prato reaction of C60 and an N-glycine derivative

• a similar peptide (GABA-(Lys)5-peptide-PEG) on resin for the reaction with compound 3. Initial trials, using 2-(1H-7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM), respectively, as a coupling reagent and a base, and 5 equiv of peptide on

Research progress on the pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and biosynthesis of crocins

• Zhongwei Hua,
• Nan Liu and
• Xiaohui Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 741–752, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.68

• and enhance the antiepileptic effect of diazepam. The mechanism of action involved γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) [38][39][40]. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) pathway is closely associated with epilepsy. Crocin can increase the BDNF level in the cortex of

HPW-Catalyzed environmentally benign approach to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

• Luan A. Martinho and
• Carlos Kleber Z. Andrade

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 628–637, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.55

•  1 [13] and include alpidem (anxiety disorders), minodronic acid (osteoporosis), miroprofen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID), necopidem (insomnia), olprinone (acute heart failure), saripidem (type A GABA receptor agonist), zolimidine (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and zolpidem

Discovery of unguisin J, a new cyclic peptide from Aspergillus heteromorphus CBS 117.55, and phylogeny-based bioinformatic analysis of UngA NRPS domains

• Sharmila Neupane,
• Marcelo Rodrigues de Amorim and
• Elizabeth Skellam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 321–330, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.32

• de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil 10.3762/bjoc.20.32 Abstract Several under-explored Aspergillus sp. produce intriguing heptapeptides containing a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) residue with as yet unknown biological functions. In this study, a new GABA-containing heptapeptide

• heptapeptides isolated predominantly from Aspergillus sp. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Distinctive features of these cyclic peptides include the non-proteinogenic amino acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the incorporation of up to five ᴅ-amino acids (Figure 1) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The amino acids at

• positions 1 (ᴅ-Ala) and 7 (GABA) are conserved but there is considerable variability at positions 2–6, including the incorporation of additional non-proteinogenic amino acids β-methylphenylalanine (βMePhe) and kynurenine (Kyn) [3][4]. So far, no significant biological activities have been reported for these

Cyanothioacetamides as a synthetic platform for the synthesis of aminopyrazole derivatives

• Valeriy O. Filimonov,
• Alexandra I. Topchiy,
• Vladimir G. Ilkin,
• Tetyana V. Beryozkina and
• Vasiliy A. Bakulev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1191–1197, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.87

• molecules that attack and destroy lipids and protein membranes of weed cells [10]. Fipronil is an inhibitor of GABA receptors and affects the nervous system of insects as a broad-spectrum insecticide [11][12]. On the other hand, thioamides are an important class of organic compounds. 6-Thioguanine and

A new route for the synthesis of 1-deazaguanine and 1-deazahypoxanthine

• Raphael Bereiter,
• Marco Oberlechner and
• Ronald Micura

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1617–1624, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.172

• ]-pyrimidines) [7][8][9] have been in the center of attention and were found to be effective compounds for the inhibition of various molecular targets associated with dysfunction of the central nervous system (e.g., as GABA and serotonin receptor modulators, or as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase PDE10A

Regioselective synthesis of methyl 5-(N-Boc-cycloaminyl)-1,2-oxazole-4-carboxylates as new amino acid-like building blocks

• Jolita Bruzgulienė,
• Greta Račkauskienė,
• Aurimas Bieliauskas,
• Vaida Milišiūnaitė,
• Miglė Dagilienė,
• Gita Matulevičiūtė,
• Vytas Martynaitis,
• Sonata Krikštolaitytė,
• Frank A. Sløk and
• Algirdas Šačkus

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 102–109, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.11

• muscimol (I) and ibotenic acid (II) (Figure 1) have been isolated from several fungal species and are active on the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate receptors of the central nervous system (CNS), respectively [8][9]. Various unnatural amino acids bearing a 1,2-oxazole moiety, such as

Icilio Guareschi and his amazing “1897 reaction”

• Gian Cesare Tron,
• Alberto Minassi,
• Giovanni Sorba,
• Mara Fausone and
• Giovanni Appendino

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1335–1351, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.93

• -disubstituted glutarates, and the type-IV Guareschi synthesis is used in the preparation of the conformationally constrained γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue gabapentin (2) [3], a blockbuster drug for the management of neuropathic pain also used for a range of off-label indications that includes hot flashes

A comprehensive review of flow chemistry techniques tailored to the flavours and fragrances industries

• Guido Gambacorta,
• James S. Sharley and
• Ian R. Baxendale

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1181–1312, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.90

Effective microwave-assisted approach to 1,2,3-triazolobenzodiazepinones via tandem Ugi reaction/catalyst-free intramolecular azide–alkyne cycloaddition

• Maryna O. Mazur,
• Oleksii S. Zhelavskyi,
• Eugene M. Zviagin,
• Svitlana V. Shishkina,
• Vladimir I. Musatov,
• Maksim A. Kolosov,
• Elena H. Shvets,
• Anna Yu. Andryushchenko and
• Valentyn A. Chebanov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 678–687, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.57

• of 1,2,4-triazolobenzodiazepines is the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Such drugs as alprazolam and estazolam are used as anxiolytic agents, whereas adinazolam is known as an antidepressant [3]. Benzodiazepine molecules are ligands for GABA-receptors and act as positive

Preparation of 2-phospholene oxides by the isomerization of 3-phospholene oxides

• Péter Bagi,
• Réka Herbay,
• Nikolett Péczka,
• Zoltán Mucsi,
• István Timári and
• György Keglevich

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 818–832, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.75

• antitumor [27][28][29][30], antifungal [31][32] or GABA receptor antagonist activity [33]. The most common synthesis of a given functionalized P-heterocyclic compound comprises the synthesis of the heterocyclic core, followed by its functionalization [27][29][34][35]. This latter step is of special

Synthesis of non-racemic 4-nitro-2-sulfonylbutan-1-ones via Ni(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction of β-ketosulfones

• Alexander N. Reznikov,
• Anastasiya E. Sibiryakova,
• Marat R. Baimuratov,
• Eugene V. Golovin,
• Victor B. Rybakov and
• Yuri N. Klimochkin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1289–1297, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.127

• ) complexes as catalyst for the Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. This reaction was used as a key stage in the synthesis of non-racemic analogues of GABA and substituted pyrrolidinones with neurotropic activity [47][51][52][54]. It should be noted

Synthesis of functionalised β-keto amides by aminoacylation/domino fragmentation of β-enamino amides

• Pavel Yanev and
• Plamen Angelov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2602–2606, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.238

• -ketoamides 11 The longer chain in compounds 4 precludes the favourable 5-exo-trig process discussed earlier (Scheme 3) and accordingly there was no competing formation of cyclic side products. A different type of unwanted cyclisation occurred with the GABA derivatives 4b,c,f,j (n = 2) but here the competing

• present in the CDCl3 solutions of all β-keto amides 5 and 11. Along with that, the 1H NMR spectra of the GABA-derivatives 11b,c,f,j (n = 2) in CDCl3 indicated a ring–chain tautomeric equilibrium with 55–75% share of the open chain form. Although an estimation of the tautomeric ratio was possible through a

Semi-synthesis and insecticidal activity of spinetoram J and its D-forosamine replacement analogues

• Kai Zhang,
• Jiarong Li,
• Honglin Liu,
• Haiyou Wang and
• Lamusi A

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2321–2330, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.207

• spinosyn molecule interacts with both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor and nicotine acetylcholine (NACh) receptors [9]. Spinosad and spinetoram can be degraded via a combination of photolysis and microbial action, ultimately producing CO2, H2O, and nitrogen oxides [10]. That suggests that along with

Applications of organocatalysed visible-light photoredox reactions for medicinal chemistry

• Michael K. Bogdos,
• Emmanuel Pinard and
• John A. Murphy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2035–2064, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.179

• protected naturally occurring amines such as GABA and phenylethylamine as well as diamines with orthogonal protecting groups, cf. product 2c. The combination of this protocol with the diastereoselective reductive amination reported by Hughes and Devine [41], provides access to very high value chiral α

Synthesis of new tricyclic 5,6-dihydro-4H-benzo[b][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-d][1,4]diazepine derivatives by [3⁺ + 2]-cycloaddition/rearrangement reactions

• Lin-bo Luan,
• Zi-jie Song,
• Zhi-ming Li and
• Quan-rui Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1826–1833, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.155

• examples of such clinically drugs having enhanced effects on the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABAA receptor and low toxicity (Figure 1) [15]. Although 1,4-benzodiazepines are widely prescribed medicines, side effects like drowsiness, drug resistance, addiction and withdrawal

An overview of recent advances in duplex DNA recognition by small molecules

• Sayantan Bhaduri,
• Nihar Ranjan and
• Dev P. Arya

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1051–1086, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.93

• response element (ARE) and the estrogen response element (ERE) was synthesized in 12–17% overall yield. Selective modifications could also be done on the GABA turn units, which showed improved cellular uptake properties. Sugiyama et al. designed and synthesized a series of telomere-targeting synthetically

Investigations towards the stereoselective organocatalyzed Michael addition of dimethyl malonate to a racemic nitroalkene: possible route to the 4-methylpregabalin core structure

• Denisa Vargová,
• Rastislav Baran and
• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 553–559, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.42

• amino acids have also been investigated as treatments for ocular disorders [7]. However, the syntheses of this type of compounds were long and relied on the use of Evans chiral auxiliaries or chiral starting materials. Various GABA derivatives were synthesized using asymmetric organocatalysis

• numerous Michael additions, as well as other reactions [11][12][13][14]. In this way, chiral thioureas, and squaramides were used to synthesize various GABA derivatives [15][16][17][18][19]. Interestingly, hydrogen-bonding activation of this kind of Michael additions worked well also in aqueous media [20

• ][21]. Other green chemistry concepts such as reusable media [22], immobilized catalysts [23], or flow set-ups have also been used with success for the synthesis of GABA derivatives [24]. Pregabalin is currently manufactured using enzymatic kinetic resolution [25], but an organocatalytic procedure

Novel amide-functionalized chloramphenicol base bifunctional organocatalysts for enantioselective alcoholysis of meso-cyclic anhydrides

• Lingjun Xu,
• Shuwen Han,
• Linjie Yan,
• Haifeng Wang,
• Haihui Peng and
• Fener Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 309–317, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.19

• pharmaceuticals, such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) analogues (baclofen HCl and pregabalin) [51][52][53][54], HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”) [55][56][57], etc. The generality and scope of this methodology was further demonstrated in the alcoholysis of 8a with

Preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]-N-heterocyclic derivatives with gem-difluorinated side chains

• Layal Hariss,
• Kamal Bou Hadir,
• Mirvat El-Masri,
• Thierry Roisnel,
• René Grée and
• Ali Hachem

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 2115–2121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.208

• formation inhibitors, GABA and benzodiazepine receptor agonists, and cardiotonic agents [7][8][9][10]. Further, the biological activities of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines proved to be strongly depending upon the nature of substituents at C2 and C3 positions. For instance, the 3-aroylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 1c

Automating multistep flow synthesis: approach and challenges in integrating chemistry, machines and logic

• Chinmay A. Shukla and
• Amol A. Kulkarni

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 960–987, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.97