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

• -electron demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction was utilized to successfully construct the BCD tricyclic structure with the correct configuration of the four contiguous stereocenters in just one step. However, the requirement of a series of protecting group manipulations undermined the step-economy and

Recent advances in total synthesis of illisimonin A

• Juan Huang and
• Ming Yang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2571–2583, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.199

• as “illisimonane skeleton”. The absolute configuration of (−)-illisimonin A was determined to be 1R,4R,5R,6R,7S,9S,10S by comparing the calculated electronic circular dichroism (EDC) spectrum with experimental CD data (Figure 2). Biological evaluation revealed that illisimonin A exhibits

• Rychnovsky [28], Kalesse [29], Yang [30], Dai [31] and Lu [32] have achieved the total synthesis of this molecule. Notable, Rychnovsky and co-workers revised the absolute configuration of (−)-illisimonin A to 1S,4S,5S,6S,7R,9R,10R. This review summarizes the reported synthetic routes toward illisimonin A

• , including uncompleted approaches. Review Rychnovsky’s synthesis and the absolute configuration revision of (−)-illisimonin A In 2019, Rychnovsky’s group reported the first total synthesis of illisimonin A [28]. Recognizing that the strained trans-pentalene moiety in the molecule is challenging to construct

Total syntheses of highly oxidative Ryania diterpenoids facilitated by innovations in synthetic strategies

• Zhi-Qi Cao,
• Jin-Bao Qiao and
• Yu-Ming Zhao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2553–2570, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.198

• limitations in technical capabilities at the time, its absolute configuration remained undetermined. Over the subsequent two decades, its hydrolysis product ryanodol (4) and several structurally related analogs were isolated sequentially [9][10][11][12][13][14]. The absolute configurations of both 1 and 4

• the correct structure of ryanodol to be 3-epi-ryanodol (5), thereby revising the previously accepted configuration [15]. Since then, numerous analogs based on the ryanodol scaffold have been identified and characterized. As of now, 18 natural products from this family have been successfully isolated

• the correct relative configuration undergoes hydrolysis of its spirocyclic lactone moiety under basic conditions to yield 13, establishing the critical C5 chiral center. Under acidic conditions, intermediate 13 undergoes ketal deprotection followed by successive intramolecular aldol reactions

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

• undesired stereochemistry at C3 due to a possible chair-like transition state like 10a (Scheme 2B). This phenomenon is consistent with the observations from previous syntheses [31][35][36]. We anticipated that late-stage epimerization might invert the configuration once the acyl group is revealed at the C2

• nitrile oxide. At this stage, it is not clear that the diastereomeric ratio (dr 4:1) may share with the same configuration at the C2 or C2’ position. The mixture of 18 was subjected to reduction of the imine motif by NaBH3CN in AcOH–MeOH and immediately protected with the Boc group. The isolated yield of

• from the INOC cycloaddition can be converted to a single stereoisomer of 20. With all required stereogenic centers embedded in the 6-5 trans-fused bicyclic skeleton, the remaining problem is converting C to O to install the secondary alcohol at C2 with retention of the β-configuration. The programmed

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 macrocycle, and is consistent with the higher dye release observed for 1-E compared to 1-Z in EYPC/Chol 8:2 LUVs. By contrast, the azobenzene configuration has little effect in the more rigid EYPC/Chol 6:4 bilayers. In highly fluid pure EYPC bilayers, however, the rapid release within the first

• bilayer, which is influenced by azobenzene isomerization. However, in the highly disordered EYPC membranes, the macrocycle appears to retain sufficient mobility regardless of the azobenzene configuration, enabling it to reach the lipid–water interface and trigger membrane permeabilization in both isomeric

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

• purification techniques [62][63][64]. Synthesis of pyrrolo-isoxazolidines utilizing nitrosoarenes via the multicomponent strategy is indeed feasible [65][66]. In a similar manner, Chakraborty obtained diastereomer products, primarily in cis configuration, from the cycloaddition reaction of a fluoro or a furyl

• aromatic aldehydes exhibit a Z-configuration [112][113] and it appears that endo-coupling of the Z-configured C,N-diphenylnitrone with maleimide is more favorable. Indeed, the distribution of the cis/trans product is also found to be significantly influenced by the nature of the substituents present in the

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

• lactone 13 through allylic oxidation and cross metathesis. For the construction of the cyclopentene ring, an alkylidene carbene-mediated C–H insertion would be applied [35]. The synthetic route could be traced back to β-lactone 14, which contains two continuous stereogenic centers with trans configuration

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

• ring appended to it, capable of capturing K+ ions (Figure 6) [51]. The authors demonstrated that this rotaxane can be incorporated into model lipid bilayers and mediate K+ ion transport across membranes through the shuttling motion of the macrocycle. In its trans configuration, the azobenzene allows

• pyridinium bisamide that forms a complex with the isophthalamide unit of the macrocycle and a chloride anion when the stiff-stilbene is in the cis configuration (Figure 17). Upon switching to the trans isomer, the expanded geometry of the macrocycle disrupts the complex, resulting in the dethreading of the

Comparative analysis of complanadine A total syntheses

• Reem Al-Ahmad and
• Mingji Dai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2334–2344, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.178

• enantiomers of 51 allowed Tsukano and co-workers to prepare both enantiomers of complanadine A. Their further biological evaluation of the complanadines and several synthetic intermediates revealed that the pseudo-dimeric structure, absolute configuration, and oxidation level are important for the observed

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

• room temperature, delivering spiroacetal (S)-114 with complete retention of configuration (>99% ee). The subsequent one-pot acetylation generated (S)-115 in 83% overall yield over three steps from (S)-112. The following functional group manipulations of (S)-115 – including debenzylation/debromination

Halogenated butyrolactones from the biomass-derived synthon levoglucosenone

• Johannes Puschnig,
• Martyn Jevric and
• Ben W. Greatrex

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2297–2301, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.175

• epoxidations of 5 are highly stereoselective [44]. Unambiguous assignment of configuration for the diastereomers was not possible on the basis of the selective 1D NOE spectra due to the lack of informative crosspeaks. Limiting the amount of oxidant (H2O2 or peracetic acid) resulted in mixtures, suggesting that

Enantioselective radical chemistry: a bright future ahead

• Anna C. Renner,
• Sagar S. Thorat,
• Hariharaputhiran Subramanian and
• Mukund P. Sibi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2283–2296, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.174

• -alkenylated products 43 with excellent enantioselectivities. Alkenyl trifluoroborates with (Z) configuration gave higher product yields than the analogous (E)-alkenyl trifluoroborates, but the corresponding alkenyl group in the product had (E) configuration in all cases. A key enabling aspect of the method

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

• copper-catalyzed tandem process initiated by endo-cyclization of indolyl homopropargyl amides, enabling atom-economical synthesis of therapeutically significant bridged aza[n.2.1] skeletons. Angle strain and configuration-controlled cyclization of 1,n-enynes In cyclization reactions, angle strain and

• configuration exert pronounced effects on reaction pathways. These substrate-specific geometric parameters directly dictate transition state formation during ring closure. Recent advances demonstrated that deliberate manipulation of angle strain and configuration enabled divergent skeletal outcomes under

• the regio- and stereoselective 5-exo-dig alkoxycyclization of 1,5-enynes via gold(I) catalysis. The cyclization mode was controlled by the configuration of the double bond in the substrate. In Z-configured substrates, steric constraints promoted 5-endo-dig cyclization, generating bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane

A chiral LC–MS strategy for stereochemical assignment of natural products sharing a 3-methylpent-4-en-2-ol moiety in their terminal structures

• Rei Suo,
• Raku Irie,
• Hinako Nakayama,
• Yuta Ishimaru,
• Yuya Akama,
• Masato Oikawa and
• Shiro Itoi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2243–2249, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.171

• all compounds. In this study, we developed a method to determine the absolute configuration of the terminal MPO moiety with high accuracy and sensitivity by a combination of chemical degradation, chemical synthesis, and chiral LC–MS analysis. The applicability of this method was demonstrated through

• typically determined using NMR-based techniques, such as coupling constant analysis and NOE experiments, sometimes with the aid of computational chemistry [3][4][5][6][7]. In contrast, absolute configuration remains more challenging to determine, as it frequently requires chemical degradation or

• groups. Total synthesis is a powerful approach for determining absolute configuration through the comparison of specific rotation or chromatographic behavior; however, it requires considerable time and effort. In this context, we have been working on developing effective approaches to determine the

Thiadiazino-indole, thiadiazino-carbazole and benzothiadiazino-carbazole dioxides: synthesis, physicochemical and early ADME characterization of representatives of new tri-, tetra- and pentacyclic ring systems and their intermediates

• Gyöngyvér Pusztai,
• László Poszávácz,
• Anna Vincze,
• András Marton,
• Ahmed Qasim Abdulhussein,
• Judit Halász,
• András Dancsó,
• Gyula Simig,
• György Tibor Balogh and
• Balázs Volk

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2220–2233, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.169

• (according to LC–MS) was always the (E) isomer. However, in the case of compounds 7c and 7h, the (Z) isomers were present in relatively high quantities and could also be successfully isolated and characterized after flash chromatography. The configuration of the C=N double bond was determined on the basis of

• both Figures, beside the selective 1D NOESY spectrum (upper part in Figure 2 and Figure 3), the 1H NMR spectrum (lower part) is also presented. The spatial proximity of NH with N=CH (marked with a red arrow in Figure 2) or with CH2 (red arrow in Figure 3) proves the (E) or (Z) configuration of the N=C

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

• conformers, obtained via DFT calculations, show a correlation with both the sign and intensity of the experimentally observed CD spectra. Keywords: absolute configuration; chiral amine; chiral quaternary ammonium salt; circular dichroism; DFT calculation; Introduction Determining the absolute

• effect in CD, the direction of twist can be estimated. The absolute configuration of amines can be determined by comparing the direction of the twist determined by CD with that obtained by conformational analysis using theoretical calculations. However, this method has only been applied to simple primary

• amines. In this work, we report that the method was applied to chiral amino alcohols and amino acid esters. We also applied the method to chiral secondary amines, for which it is generally difficult to determine the absolute configuration due to the conformational complexity of their derivatives [33]. By

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

The application of desymmetric enantioselective reduction of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the total synthesis of terpenoid and alkaloid natural products

• Dong-Xing Tan and
• Fu-She Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2085–2102, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.164

• . Additionally, there is a lack of corresponding pharmacological activity studies. In 2021, the group of Han completed the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-toxicodenane A (16) and determined its absolute configuration by employing an early-stage desymmetric enantioselective reduction of a 1,3

• Prins cyclization produced the oxa-bridged product 88. Finally, ozonolysis of 88 followed by Wittig reaction of the resultant ketone and subsequent reduction accomplished the total synthesis of (+)-toxicodenane A (16). The authors eventually confirmed that the absolute configuration of (+)-16 was 4S,5S

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

• absolute configuration was unambiguously determined by the comparison with the reported compound chaetominine (1)” [32]. The only information regarding the absolute configuration mentioned in the text is as follows: “aspera chaetominine A (1) was presumably biosynthesized from ʟ-isoleucine, ʟ-valine

• (–)-isochaetominine C (6), whose absolute configuration is tentatively assigned as 2R,3R,11S,14R. It is worth noting that compound 13 has been obtained in our previous investigation [63]. However, the 1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded in DMSO-d6 which prevent a direct comparison with the data of aspera

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

• formed in the product. 2.2 Determine, according to the Cahn–Ingold–Prelog (CIP) rules, the atoms that distinguish the newly created stereogenic element's configuration. These are the atoms whose identities represent the first point of difference between the set of substituents in assigning the

• configuration of the new stereogenic element. One or two sets of atoms could be identified. a) These atoms labeled in step 1 are considered higher in priority than any other atoms. b) If the comparison is down to between an atom already labeled in step 1 and one other atom, such comparison and this set of atoms

• index (Scheme 2). A detailed process for assigning the index is shown in Scheme 2A for asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-butanone [1]. The atoms involved in bond cleavage and bond formation are highlighted in orange color. The atoms responsible for assignment of the stereochemical configuration of 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

• -metathesis reaction smoothly in the presence of the Hoveyda–Grubbs second-generation catalyst to afford the enone 13 in 63% yield with the desired trans-configuration. Enone 13 was then subjected to the Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenation to give the thermodynamically favored bicyclic hemiketal 21 in 92% yield as

• stereochemistry at C9. Therefore, alcohol 32 was subjected to a one-pot Mitsunobu reaction, hydrolyzation, and spirolactonization to give the corresponding alcohol 26 with inversed configuration at C9. Finally, terminal alkene 26 was transformed by Dai’s Ru-catalyzed Z-selective cross-metathesis with 33 [9][40

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

• , theoretical calculations were performed to evaluate the energy barriers of isomerization. As shown in Figure S3 (Supporting Information File 1), the configuration observed in the crystal structure has the lower energy by 24.0 kcal mol−1 than that of the isomeric structure with two pyrene units at the same

• with a Daicel Chiralpak IF column (Figure S1, Supporting Information File 1). The absolute configuration of the separated enantiomers of MC1 was determined based on the calculated CD spectra (Figure S4, Supporting Information File 1). The first fraction was defined as the (+)-enantiomer, and the second

Stereoselective electrochemical intramolecular imino-pinacol reaction: a straightforward entry to enantiopure piperazines

• Margherita Gazzotti,
• Fabrizio Medici,
• Valerio Chiroli,
• Laura Raimondi,
• Sergio Rossi and
• Maurizio Benaglia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1897–1908, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.147

• absolute configuration of the piperazine formed, a pure sample of compound 2b derived from (1R,2R)-trans-diaminocyclohexane was crystallized from a chloroform solution resulting in the formation of white crystals suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The absolute configuration of the

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 produced the imine 16a which, upon treatment with Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and KHMDS, led to furan ring formation and the generation of hetero[7]helicene 17a while maintaining the stereochemical configuration. Through this methodology, a range of elongated [7]- and [8]heterohelicenes 17b–d incorporating both

• enantioselective synthesis of planarly chiral macrocycles through a dynamic kinetic resolution approach [15]. Despite bearing an amino group on the phenyl ring, the configuration of the macrocyclic paracyclophane 32 was found to be unstable at room temperature. Consequently, by employing a CPA-catalyzed asymmetric

• the efficient asymmetric synthesis of inherently chiral eight-membered N-heterocycle 6,7-diphenyldibenzo[e,g][1,4]diazocines (DDDs), which displayed a rigid saddle-shaped configuration [16]. Starting from readily available [1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-diamines 62 and benzyl compounds 63, the asymmetric

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

• stable isomer is not always intuitive, and several early studies focused on this aspect [96][105][106]. For small substituents (H, Me, CN) in aprotic solvents and in the absence of other external factors, the equilibrium is usually shifted towards the least hindered configuration, regardless of the

• irradiation [118] (Figure 20). The primary example of a diarylethene is stilbene: it was discovered that upon irradiation, stilbene would not only switch between the E- (I) and Z-configuration (II) but also, in its Z-configuration, it would undergo a 6π-electrocyclisation (III) (see Scheme 39) [119]. However