Formaldehyde surrogates in multicomponent reactions

• Cecilia I. Attorresi,
• Javier A. Ramírez and
• Bernhard Westermann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 564–595, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.45

• diversification or scaffold decoration [4]. In these reactions, three or more compounds react together in one single reaction step to generate a more complex product where most of the atoms of starting materials are present [5]. This high atom economy positions MCRs as ecofriendly (green) reactions because their

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

• atom economy, it significantly reduces the chance of migration as observed for acetyl groups. Various studies have revealed its dependence on both electron-withdrawing substituents and steric bulk on the carbonyl group [80]. It demonstrates that its migration rate is significantly increased by more

Red light excitation: illuminating photocatalysis in a new spectrum

• Lucas Fortier,
• Corentin Lefebvre and
• Norbert Hoffmann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 296–326, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.22

• underscores the practicality and accessibility of the method, even outside a laboratory setting. The green chemistry metrics analysis provided in the study confirms the environmental benefits, with high atom economy, low waste generation, minimal resource consumption, and the potential of porphyrin

Recent advances in organocatalytic atroposelective reactions

• Henrich Szabados and
• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 55–121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.6

• and, by extension, atom economy. Through the thermal racemization experiment, the rotational barrier of the product 206 was calculated to be 31.1 kcal/mol at 100 °C, corresponding to a half-life of 107 years at 25 °C. Han et al. developed a protocol to construct pyrrole rings from 1-naphthyl

Giese-type alkylation of dehydroalanine derivatives via silane-mediated alkyl bromide activation

• Perry van der Heide,
• Michele Retini,
• Fabiola Fanini,
• Giovanni Piersanti,
• Francesco Secci,
• Daniele Mazzarella,
• Timothy Noël and
• Alberto Luridiana

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3274–3280, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.271

• approaches have also gained widespread attention for their unique advantages in these transformations [4]. Radical chemistry often exhibits complementary reactivity to two-electron pathways and can be performed with high selectivity, atom economy, and functional group tolerance [5]. A well-known radical

Intramolecular C–H arylation of pyridine derivatives with a palladium catalyst for the synthesis of multiply fused heteroaromatic compounds

• Yuki Nakanishi,
• Shoichi Sugita,
• Kentaro Okano and
• Atsunori Mori

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3256–3262, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.269

• efficiencies in atom economy [3][4]. The extension of the reaction to an intramolecular version represents a viable approach for the construction of several fused-ring skeletons [5]. Such ring structures containing heterocyclic rings would be of crucial importance because heterocycle-fused ring structures [6

Multicomponent reactions driving the discovery and optimization of agents targeting central nervous system pathologies

• Lucía Campos-Prieto,
• Aitor García-Rey,
• Eddy Sotelo and
• Ana Mallo-Abreu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3151–3173, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.261

• three or more reagents are combined in one step to yield a single product that contains most of the atoms from the starting materials [1][2]. Among the advantages of MCRs are their high atom economy and efficiency in bond formation, along with the cost-effectiveness of separating and purifying products

Synthesis of the 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole-methanesulfonylindole hybrid system via high-order multicomponent reaction

• Cesia M. Aguilar-Morales,
• América A. Frías-López,
• Nadia V. Emilio-Velázquez,
• Alejandro Islas-Jácome,
• Angelica Judith Granados-López,
• Jorge Gustavo Araujo-Huitrado,
• Yamilé López-Hernández,
• Hiram Hernández-López,
• Luis Chacón-García,
• Jesús Adrián López and
• Carlos J. Cortés-García

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3077–3084, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.256

• ]. In this regard, a relatively unexplored field within MCRs comprises high-order multicomponent reactions, which involve reacting at least five or even more components in a single operational step. These reactions are highly convergent, efficient, and have superior atom economy, producing high

• -disubstituted tetrazole-methanesulfonylindole derivatives, with yields ranging from 16% to 55% after purification by column chromatography. Despite some yields being modest, they are deemed reasonable considering the reaction’s structural complexity, atom economy, and the efficiency achieved in terms of time

Synthesis of pyrrole-fused dibenzoxazepine/dibenzothiazepine/triazolobenzodiazepine derivatives via isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions

• Marzieh Norouzi,
• Mohammad Taghi Nazeri,
• Ahmad Shaabani and
• Behrouz Notash

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2870–2882, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.241

• achieve this goal [7][33]. Among them, isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (I-MCRs) are one of the well-known strategies in this field due to their operational simplicity, one-pot, convergent properties and atom economy, high efficiency, and high levels of chemical selectivity [34][35][36]. In

Asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of chiral homoallylic amines

• Nikolay S. Kondratyev and
• Andrei V. Malkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2349–2377, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.201

• , prenylboronic acid (R = H) was synthesised in only 31% yield. Given the 1.5 equiv loading of the boronic acids in the allylation protocol, the overall atom economy is not ideal. Asymmetric allylation of in situ-formed imines catalysed by chiral BINOLs received further development in the work of Schaus [26]. The

• of the allyl donor reagent (up to 25 g). Importantly, benzophenone was easily recovered by recrystallisation after the workup (no chromatography, 80% yield) and then converted back into the allyl donor 116 (86% yield), thus boosting the overall atom-economy of the process. Also, the recovery of the

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis

• Akiya Ogawa and
• Yuki Yamamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2114–2128, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.182

• understand the conditions for the generation of heteroatom radicals. In addition, from the perspective of recent green chemistry, the development of environmentally friendly synthetic methods is strongly demanded. In other words, a new synthetic method should have excellent atom economy, produce no waste, be

The Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction in its maturity: innovation and improvements since its 21st birthday (2019–2023)

• Cristina Martini,
• Muhammad Idham Darussalam Mardjan and
• Andrea Basso

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1839–1879, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.162

• and diisocyanides 97a,b in the presence of 2-aminopyridine (1, Scheme 30). The polymerization was carried out under mild conditions (in ethanol as the solvent and p-TsOH as the catalyst) and delivered six polymers featured with high yields (up to 98%), molecular weight (up to 41,700 g/mol), atom

• economy (water was the only byproduct) and thermal stability as well as remarkable fluorescence properties. Multicomponent reaction can be also employed to prepare crystalline porous materials namely covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The structural diversity and functionality of COFs were assembled from

A facile three-component route to powerful 5-aryldeazaalloxazine photocatalysts

• Ivana Weisheitelová,
• Radek Cibulka,
• Marek Sikorski and
• Tetiana Pavlovska

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1831–1838, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.161

• bearing electron-donating or halogen groups. This practical method is characterised by atom economy and offers a direct route to the introduction of an aryl moiety into the C(5)-position of deazaalloxazines, thereby generating novel catalysts for photoredox catalysis without the need for subsequent

The Ugi4CR as effective tool to access promising anticancer isatin-based α-acetamide carboxamide oxindole hybrids

• Carolina S. Marques,
• Aday González-Bakker and
• José M. Padrón

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1213–1220, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.104

• with remarkable atom economy, cost and time-effective and mainly diminishing waste production is a conscientious boost for structural diversity and sustainability [1][2][3]. The well-known Passerini, Ugi, Mannich, Biginelli, Hantzsch and Strecker reactions are some examples of the classic MCRs

Light on the sustainable preparation of aryl-cored dibromides

• Fabrizio Roncaglia,
• Alberto Ughetti,
• Nicola Porcelli,
• Biagio Anderlini,
• Andrea Severini and
• Luca Rigamonti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1076–1087, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.95

• . Nevertheless, additional studies are required to broaden the scope of most alternatives and to evaluate options for carrier recovery/regeneration. Regardless of the employed method, the concept of (re-)generating molecular bromine from “spent” bromide ions is a crucial idea to improve the atom economy of the

• ” first-ring-then-benzylic halogenation methods are compared. Conclusion In summary, the peroxide-bromide halogenation method, originally developed for the monobromination of benzenoid structures, has been extended to synthesize aryl-cored polybromides with high yield and high atom economy. This method

• no longer an issue, since it is formed inside the reaction vessel, secondly this approach allows enhanced selectivity of the bromination, as the amount and timing of the chemical generation can be modulated. In addition, in situ regeneration of bromine from bromide byproducts improves the atom

Palladium-catalyzed three-component radical-polar crossover carboamination of 1,3-dienes or allenes with diazo esters and amines

• Geng-Xin Liu,
• Xiao-Ting Jie,
• Ge-Jun Niu,
• Li-Sheng Yang,
• Xing-Lin Li,
• Jian Luo and
• Wen-Hao Hu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 661–671, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.59

• . Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) by virtue of high efficiency for the construction of complex chemicals, have shown the superiority in high step and atom economy in organic synthesis [25][26][27]. Over the past two decades, our group and others have developed a transition-metal-catalyzed MCR strategy involving

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

• ][21][22]. Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) provide one-pot reactions, simple synthetic procedures, less waste being produced, fewer purification steps, and a high atom economy [23]. The GBB three-component reaction is carried out in the presence of Lewis or Brønsted acid catalysis to increase the

Recent advancements in iodide/phosphine-mediated photoredox radical reactions

• Tinglan Liu,
• Yu Zhou,
• Junhong Tang and
• Chengming Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1785–1803, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.131

• notable advantages in terms of both step- and atom-economy. Taking inspiration from the groundbreaking work of Shang and Fu [6], Li and colleagues demonstrated an innovative approach for the photocatalytic [3 + 2] and [4 + 2] annulation of enynals 32 and γ,σ-unsaturated N-(acyloxy)phthalimides 33 (Scheme

Non-noble metal-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenation coupling (CDC) involving ether α-C(sp³)–H to construct C–C bonds

• Hui Yu and
• Feng Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1259–1288, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.94

• synthetic strategy for the construction of C–C bonds in organic synthesis (Scheme 1b). Compared with traditional coupling reactions, the CDC strategy has the following advantages: 1) atom economy, 2) green and efficient reaction, 3) a wide range of substrate sources. Therefore, organic chemists consider the

• operation, wide substrate range, and atom economy. It provides a new strategy for constructing functionalized pyridines. The reaction undergoes the following four processes: initially, DTBP is decomposed into two tert-butylperoxyl radicals A under heat. Then, the tert-butylperoxyl radical converts the ether

Acetaldehyde in the Enders triple cascade reaction via acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal

• Alessandro Brusa,
• Debora Iapadre,
• Maria Edith Casacchia,
• Alessio Carioscia,
• Giuliana Giorgianni,
• Giandomenico Magagnano,
• Fabio Pesciaioli and
• Armando Carlone

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1243–1250, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.92

• reason, the use of MCRs is appealing in the construction of natural or synthetic products [2][3][4][5] or libraries of compounds [2], and is generally considered an advantage in organic synthesis for atom economy, waste reduction and time saving. Cascade reactions are defined as chemical processes in

Photoredox catalysis harvesting multiple photon or electrochemical energies

• Mattia Lepori,
• Simon Schmid and
• Joshua P. Barham

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1055–1145, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.81

Honeycomb reactor: a promising device for streamlining aerobic oxidation under continuous-flow conditions

• Masahiro Hosoya,
• Yusuke Saito and
• Yousuke Horiuchi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 752–763, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.55

• , which diminishes the atom economy [2]. To overcome this limitation, the use of molecular oxygen (O2) present in air as an oxidant is one of the ideal solutions [10][11]. The reduction of O2 generates only water as a byproduct, leading to high atom-economy processes. However, the use of O2 as an oxidant

A new oxidatively stable ligand for the chiral functionalization of amino acids in Ni(II)–Schiff base complexes

• Alena V. Dmitrieva,
• Oleg A. Levitskiy,
• Yuri K. Grishin and
• Tatiana V. Magdesieva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 566–574, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.41

• , see Table 2); consequently, a stereoinduction efficiency expected for ligand L7 may be lower than that of L4. However, taking into account the simplicity of our procedure and the atom-economy principle, the ligand L7 can be considered as a cheaper alternative to L4, still providing a significant

Total synthesis of insect sex pheromones: recent improvements based on iron-mediated cross-coupling chemistry

• Eric Gayon,
• Guillaume Lefèvre,
• Olivier Guerret,
• Adrien Tintar and
• Pablo Chourreu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 158–166, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.15

• to overall processes with a low atom economy, generating a significant amount of chemical waste, and which can be expensive when noble metals such as palladium salts are required (Scheme 1). The high efficiency of transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling methods in C–C bond formation processes

• , dialkyl phosphates used as leaving groups lead to overall transformations which display a poor atom economy. Moreover, diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), used as a classic starting material in the dienol phosphates synthesis, is also registered under REACH regulation, and its use brings several toxicity

• aimed at combining the advantages brought by those additives with the atom-economy offered by the use of organic electrophiles bearing halide leaving groups (better than that obtained with phosphates leaving groups, Scheme 4). We thus investigated the development of pheromone synthesis involving cross

Two-step continuous-flow synthesis of 6-membered cyclic iodonium salts via anodic oxidation

• Julian Spils,
• Thomas Wirth and
• Boris J. Nachtsheim

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 27–32, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.2

• continuous-flow procedure for the generation of six-membered diaryliodonium salts. The accompanying scalability and atom economy are significant improvements to existing batch methods. Benzyl acetates are submitted to this two-step procedure as highly available and cheap starting materials. An acid-catalyzed

• otherwise tedious to synthesize CDIS robustly in short reaction times. A significant drawback still is the use of stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants, which decreases the atom economy and necessitates additional workup procedures. A possible solution is the anodic oxidation of iodoarenes as

• alcohols as a solvent [37][38]. Therefore, we attempt to transfer our already established one-pot procedure towards CDIS 1 into a multi-step electrochemical flow process, improving reaction times, atom economy, and scalability (Scheme 1C). Results and Discussion We initially investigated the second step of