Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the cardenolide rhodexin A and its aglycone sarmentogenin

• Fuzhen Song,
• Mengmeng Zheng,
• Dongkai Wang,
• Xudong Qu and
• Qianghui Zhou

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2637–2644, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.204

• absorption and metabolism, and specific moieties like rhamnose can enhance CG potency markedly by more than 25 times [1][7]. In addition, the -OH groups on the steroids’ structure also play an important role on their activity. However, these compounds are mainly isolated from plants or animals, which not

Thiazolidinones: novel insights from microwave synthesis, computational studies, and potentially bioactive hybrids

• Luan A. Martinho,
• Victor H. J. G. Praciano,
• Guilherme D. R. Matos,
• Claudia C. Gatto and
• Carlos Kleber Z. Andrade

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2618–2636, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.203

• = 0.546), with an excitation wavelength of 366 nm [83][84][85]. Nevertheless, no measurable quantum yield was observed for the fluorescence process. A solvatochromic study was conducted by measuring the UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of compounds 3n (Figure 7) and 4n (Supporting Information

• from rhodanine (3n) exhibited an intense absorption band in the range of 462–481 nm, related to the π→π*-type transitions. Additionally, weaker, broad absorption bands were observed below 350 nm. In contrast, the thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivative 4n displayed a blue shift, with maximum absorption band

• (Scheme 8) [92]. Finally, an investigation of the influence of pH on the absorption and fluorescence spectra in aqueous solution was carried out under various pH values for compounds 3n (Figure 8) and 4n (Figure S252 in Supporting Information File 1), as changes in pH are known to significantly affect

Silica gel with covalently attached bambusuril macrocycle for dicyanoaurate sorption from water

• Michaela Šusterová and
• Vladimír Šindelář

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2604–2611, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.201

• . Additionally, a new absorption band at 1558 cm−1 was observed in the spectra of SG-NHCO-BU1 further confirming covalent attachment of BU1 through an amide bond. In the case of SG-BU1, a C=O vibrational band is observed at 1705 cm−1, which corresponds to the vibration of the C=O of BU1 carboxylic acid groups

• 1 M KOH, followed by addition of dicyanoaurate ([Au(CN)2]−) to the supernatant. It was shown previously that the absorption spectrum of dicyanoaurate in aqueous solution changes upon formation of an inclusion complex between the anion and a bambusuril macrocycle [17]. A solution of dicyanoaurate in

• 1 M KOH was titrated by BU1 and the changes in the absorption spectra of the anion were in agreement with those previously reported in pure water (Figure 1B). Dicyanoaurate absorption bands with maxima at 239 and 229 nm decreased in their intensity in the presence of BU1, while a new band appeared

Rapid access to the core of malayamycin A by intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition

• Yilin Liu,
• Yuchen Yang,
• Chen Yang,
• Sha-Hua Huang,
• Jian Jin and
• Ran Hong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2542–2547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.196

• position. Therefore, dihydroxylation [37] readily converted alkene 11 to diol 12 as a mixture of inseparable isomers. Without purification, oxidative cleavage with NaIO4 resulted in a compound with strong UV absorption, which was eventually identified as enone 14 (Scheme 3). It is assumed that the

Pentacyclic aromatic heterocycles from Pd-catalyzed annulation of 1,5-diaryl-1,2,3-triazoles

• Kaylen D. Lathrum,
• Emily M. Hanneken,
• Katelyn R. Grzelak and
• James T. Fletcher

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2524–2534, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.194

• the NMR timescale. These trends were observed similarly for the other analogs of this study (see Supporting Information File 1). Optoelectronic properties of each annulated product and its respective control compound were examined via UV–visible absorption and emission spectroscopy. Figure 6 shows the

• Information File 1). Table 3 summarizes the observed λmax values for absorption and emission bands for each compound in this study. Due to their structural rigidity, annulated compounds comprised of quinoline or isoquinoline subunits generated emission signals with greater intensity and smaller Stokes shifts

• isoquinoline subunits. Heterocycle subunit identity and triazole C/N connectivity influenced the annulation reaction efficiency. Aromatic π-system expansion resulting from annulation was characterized by NMR, absorption and emission spectroscopy. Five benzotriazolophenanthroline regioisomers sharing structural

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

• the LUVs at 10 mol % relative to the total lipid content. UV–vis spectra recorded before irradiation showed an absorption band around 372 nm, corresponding to the π→π* transition of the E isomer (Figure 3, left column, black trace). Upon irradiation at 370 nm for 1 minute, two new peaks appeared at

• conversion is typical for this type of photoswitches, owing to the spectral overlap between the π→π* and n→π* transitions. Importantly, these spectral signatures were consistent across all lipid compositions, indicating that the different membrane phases did not induce measurable shifts in the absorption of

• rotaxane 1. LUVs containing rotaxane 1 were subjected to ten cycles of alternating irradiation at 370 nm and 467 nm, with UV–vis spectra recorded after each exposure. Figure 3 (right column) shows the changes in absorption at 365 nm, reflecting the photoswitching and photoreversibility of rotaxane 1 across

Assembly strategy for thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes via a disulfide intermediate derived from 3-nitrothiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate

• Roman A. Irgashev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2489–2497, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.191

• , the use of TT frameworks for semiconductors has led to significant progress in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic photovoltaics, organic light-emitting diodes, and chemical sensors [1][2][3]. For instance, TT-containing copolymers have shown high hole mobility, strong absorption in the

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

• simple building blocks [72]. The main feature of light-induced transformations is the involvement of electronically excited states that occur during photon absorption, leading to the formation of reactive intermediates causing significant changes in chemical compound reactivity. As a result, light energy

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

• ) and WDG (rigid fluorene backbone), were synthesized via Friedel–Crafts reactions. Their iodide (I−) recognition properties were systematically explored using 1H NMR, UV–vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis via the Benesi–Hildebrand equation and nonlinear fitting

• rotationally restricted, all its accessible conformations constitute a subset of PBG's conformations. The binding constants and conformational change mechanisms of the two analogs were quantitatively evaluated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), ultraviolet–visible absorption

• by the two structural analogs, we added a commercially available tetrabutylammonium salt (TBAI) to the body dissolved in CDCl3 (TBAI has a good solubility in CDCl3) and studied the interaction between the receptor and iodide ion by 1H NMR titration, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence

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

• 2007 by Zhou and co-workers [74]. The spiropyran was positioned on the axle and served a dual purpose: as a recognition site and stopper. Photoisomerization led to the reversible shuttling of the macrocycle, which produced a visible absorption output signal that can be seen with the naked eye. Later

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

• , 108d) underwent the desired photochemical reaction (Scheme 13b), yielding spiroacetals 109a, 109b, and 109d following CAN (cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate) oxidation. In contrast, C7-methoxy-substituted analogs (108c, 108e) remained unreactive. Reactivity correlated with UV–vis absorption profiles

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

• bond. Therefore, the π-electron conjugation is widespread almost over the chromophores. However, the UV spectrum of 1–ʟ-alaninol conjugate (S)-2a shows an intense absorption, maintaining the nature of methoxybiphenyl chromophore. The absorption band at 259 nm is attributed to the π–π* transition

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

• , experimentally, there is an ensemble of non-equilibrium geometries. To get a more realistic understanding of the absorption, we generated 500 geometries using the Wigner-sampling method to generate an ensemble of energetically accessible non-equilibrium geometries. We computed the gas-phase vertical excitation

• energies (S0 → Sn, n = 1, 2, 3) and corresponding oscillator strengths of the Wigner-sampled structures of 1, 3 and 5 to explore the nature of electronic excitations to the FC regions. This allowed us to predict an absorption spectrum with normalized oscillator strengths (S0 → S3). Figure 2 shows the

• computed absorption spectra of 1, 3, and 5. Figure 2 shows the 1, 3, and 5 computed absorption spectra with three λmax peaks. The S0 to S3 has a peak centered from 179 to 181 nm and corresponds to a majority nNN(σCN) → Ryd, the peak centered from 190 to 194 nm corresponds to a majority nNN → π* from S0 to

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

• it improves lipophilicity, oral absorption and biological activity [25]. Results and Discussion Arylation of aliphatic chain-containing propargylsilanes We started our investigation with the arylation of aliphatic chain-containing propargylsilanes. The starting material – tert-butyl(hept-1-yn-3-yl

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

• 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

• identity of the active light-absorbing species in the reaction mixture. UV–vis spectra of the benzoylazolium starting material 1 at different concentrations in the acetonitrile reaction solvent were accordingly measured. Although exhibiting maximum absorption at wavelengths significantly shorter than that

• emitted by the light sources used (latest λabs,max = 271 nm), a significant absorption tail up to ca. λ = 400 nm was observed at higher concentrations, indicating that the starting material could potentially absorb the incident light directly. This rationale is consistent with the increase in reduction

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

• absorption maximum of MC1 is more redshifted by 42 nm compared to MC2, which is attributed to the extended conjugation after the fusion of one pyrene unit. Similarly, both MC1 and MC2 have higher ΦF values of 0.45 and 0.69 than compound MC3 (ΦF = 0.13). The optical energy bandgaps were determined to be 2.48

• well as four negative Cotton effects at 288, 317, 331, and 432 nm, respectively. (−)-MC1 exhibits a mirror image with the opposite signals to that of (+)-MC1. The maximum absorption dissymmetry factor (gabs) value of 1.1 × 10−3 at 453 nm is observed (Figure 5b), which is derived from the S0→S1

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

• ). Shining light will bring the molecule to a generic excited state (which is different for different photoswitch classes and substitution patterns and will not be treated in detail), which can then relax back to the ground state in either of the two wells. In cases where the two absorption spectra of the

• ). It must be noted, though, that in literature both PSS and PSD are used to indicate the photostationary distribution [2]. We will use the PSS notation throughout the review. Often, the two absorption spectra overlap, and both isomers are excited to different extents at the same time. The extent of

• switched to another. To achieve the best PSS, a wavelength with minimum spectral overlap should be chosen, which may not correspond to the maximum absorption wavelength (Figure 2) [3]. Positive photochromism is observed when the stable isomer has a maximum absorption at the lower wavelength (i.e., UV), and

On the aromaticity and photophysics of 1-arylbenzo[a]imidazo[5,1,2-cd]indolizines as bicolor fluorescent molecules for barium tagging in the study of double-beta decay of ¹³⁶Xe

• Eric Iván Velazco-Cabral,
• Fernando Auria-Luna,
• Juan Molina-Canteras,
• Miguel A. Vázquez,
• Iván Rivilla and
• Fernando P. Cossío

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1627–1638, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.126

• -cd]indolizine and the para-phenylene groups, especially in the S1 state, thus indicating that both aromatic units are coupled under excitation–relaxation to produce the corresponding absorption–emission spectra (vide infra). The calculated structures of 18 complexed with barium perchlorate are more

• + prompted us to compare the photophysical properties of unbound compound 18 in the presence of Ba(ClO4)2. The values corresponding to the adiabatic absorption (S0(optimized) → S1*, adiabatic absorption) and emission (S1(optimized) → S0, fluorescence) are reported in Table 2, together with the differences

• between the free and bound states. The corresponding signed errors are gathered in Figure 7. The behavior of the different functionals resulted to be very variable, although the ground state and excited state geometries were very similar. In the case of absorption wavelengths, wB97XD, BHandHHLYP and CAM

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

• simple SiO2 column chromatography. In addition, they were purified using a recyclable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to remove unidentified impurities to obtain (Sp)-6 and (Sp)-7 in 16% and 3% isolated yields, respectively. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra and normalized

• photoluminescence (PL) spectra of (Sp)-6 and (Sp)-7 in diluted CHCl3 solutions (1.0 × 10−5 M) are depicted in Figure 1. The absorption bands are derived from the π–π* transitions of a phenylene–ethynylene conjugation system. The spectra of (Sp)-6 and (Sp)-7 are similar, and the absorption peak top of (Sp)-7 is red

• -shifted compared with that of (Sp)-6 because of the bent structure of the p-phenylene–ethynylene moieties in (Sp)-6 and extended π-conjugation of (Sp)-7. Such a red-shift of a UV–vis absorption spectrum has been observed in previously reported [2.2]paracyclophane-based cyclic oligomers [39]. CHCl3

Thermodynamic equilibrium between locally excited and charge transfer states in perylene–phenothiazine dyads

• Issei Fukunaga,
• Shunsuke Kobashi,
• Yuki Nagai,
• Hiroki Horita,
• Hiromitsu Maeda and
• Yoichi Kobayashi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1577–1586, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.121

• the PTZ moiety and the photoinduced charge-transfer (CT) state. Femtosecond to microsecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that this equilibrium is facilitated not simply by enhanced donor ability, but presumably by excited-state planarization of the PTZ moiety, which lowers the energy of

• demonstrate that precise electronic and geometric design can enable controllable excited-state behavior in orthogonal molecular systems. Keywords: charge transfer; electron transfer; molecular dyad; transient absorption; Introduction Photoinduced electron transfer and charge separation are fundamental

• featuring high photostability and strong visible absorption. Perylene–phenothiazine (Pe–PTZ) derivatives have been previously investigated for their excited-state dynamics [15]. Incorporating additional electron-donating groups such as triphenylamine (TPA) onto the PTZ core is expected not only to enhance

Synthesis of an aza[5]helicene-incorporated macrocyclic heteroarene via oxidation of an o-phenylene-pyrrole-thiophene icosamer

• Yusuke Matsuo,
• Aoi Nakagawa,
• Shu Seki and
• Takayuki Tanaka

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1561–1567, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.119

• two NH sites remained uncoordinated due to steric hindrance. Non-covalent interaction (NCI) plot analysis revealed distinct intramolecular π–π dispersion interactions between the two aza[5]helicene moieties (green surface in Figure 4b) [29][30][31]. Optical properties The electronic absorption and

• emission spectra of 4 were measured in DMSO (Figure 5a). As observed for other o-phenylene-bridged cyclic heteroarenes in previous reports, compound 4 exhibited a broad featureless absorption band up to 450 nm, with emission peaked at 546 nm. The red-shifted emission is likely due to a significant

• structural relaxation in the excited state. The fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) was determined as 0.078 (λex = 300 nm), and the fluorescence lifetime (τ) using biexponential decay model fitting as 1.7 and 4.4 ns. The partially fused structure of 5 exhibited a well-defined lowest-energy absorption band peaked

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

• changes in their absorption and photochemical properties. While azobenzene protonation has been recently used as a tool in photoswitching studies, the factors influencing protonation itself have received little attention. Here, we report a strong temperature dependence of azobenzene protonation in 1,2

• they all typically result in significant changes in the absorption spectrum and/or alter the stability of the metastable isomer. In sensing, azobenzenes have been utilized, e.g., through changes in isomerization kinetics [17][18] or colorimetric properties. The colorimetric sensors are effective for

• and protonated species. Protonation leads to a notable red-shift in the absorption spectrum from 320–360 nm to 420–510 nm, as shown in Figure 1B using methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). We assume that in DCE alone, no protonation occurs. In MSA, on the other hand, full protonation

Microwave-enhanced additive-free C–H amination of benzoxazoles catalysed by supported copper

• Andrei Paraschiv,
• Valentina Maruzzo,
• Filippo Pettazzi,
• Stefano Magliocco,
• Paolo Inaudi,
• Daria Brambilla,
• Gloria Berlier,
• Giancarlo Cravotto and
• Katia Martina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1462–1476, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.108

• its moderate absorption capacity and specific surface area (SSA), measured at 164 m2/g using the BET surface area analysis, and because it can be efficiently derivatised with a trialkoxysilane amino derivative as recently reported [61]. A previously optimised ultrasound-promoted synthetic protocol was

• δNH2, at around 3370, 3300 and 1596 cm−1, respectively) and by the νCH2 and δCH2 vibrations (curve a) [64][65]. The broad absorption in the high frequency region is characteristic of hydrogen bonding between Si–OH and NH2 groups in functionalised silica materials. After insertion of Cu(I), small

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

• racemization barrier. Optical and chiroptical properties The UV–vis absorption spectra of CBBC 1, mono-olefin 3, and bis-olefin 5 are shown in Figure 5a. The absorption of 3 tails to 370 nm, which is comparable to the absorption end of CBBC 1. On the other hand, the absorption of bis-olefin 5 is blue-shifted

• , tailing to 325 nm. In the case of CBBC 1, the contribution of n–π* transition due to the carbonyl groups affords weak absorption in the 300–380 nm range [17]. Consequently, the blue-shifted absorption of 5 compared to those of 1 and 3 could result from the loss of carbonyl groups. The relatively large

• the axial chirality of the biaryl segments, respectively. (a) UV–vis absorption (solid lines) and emission (dashed lines) spectra of 1 (black), 3 (blue), and 5 (red). (b) CD spectra of 1 (black), 3 (blue), and 5 (red). (c) CD g values of 1 (black), 3 (blue), and 5 (red). λ = wavelength; ε = extinction

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

• core [17]. Compared to 4a, compound 4b exhibits bathochromic shifts of 12 nm in absorption and 45 nm in emission, as well as a higher ΦF (0.75 vs 0.68). Both isomers display TADF at room temperature and phosphorescence at 77 K. Notably, 4a demonstrates a long-lived red afterglow persisting for up to 30

• absorption and emission maxima (λabs = 399 nm, λem = 405 nm), a fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) of 0.13, and high dissymmetry factors (|gabs| = 1.9 × 10−2, |gabs| = 9.5 × 10−3 at 403 nm) [18] (Table 2). Miura and co-workers employed Pd(II)/Ag(I)-catalyzed cyclizations to construct azahelicenes, with compound

• intramolecular Scholl reactions [24] (Table 3). All compounds exhibited strong absorption in the UV–vis region (250–450 nm) and fluorescence emission between 400–550 nm. Among these, compound 11c, a saddle-shaped dibenzodiaza[8]circulene, was particularly noteworthy as the first example of its kind synthesized