Recent advances in synthetic approaches for bioactive cinnamic acid derivatives

• Betty A. Kustiana,
• Galuh Widiyarti and
• Teni Ernawati

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1031–1086, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.85

• construction, alkyne hydrogenation, ylide and carbene reaction, metathesis, E/Z isomerization, and other methods, including Cα and Cβ functionalizations. Preparing various functional group-tethered aromatic groups can be achieved by directly installing an aromatic group via cross-coupling reactions and other

On the photoluminescence in triarylmethyl-centered mono-, di-, and multiradicals

• Daniel Straub,
• Markus Gross,
• Mona E. Arnold,
• Julia Zolg and
• Alexander J. C. Kuehne

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 964–998, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.80

• precise C–C and C–N cross-coupling reactions only at the site of the iodine – donors were attached to TTM by radical-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution SRN1. The leaving group is the para-chlorine atom, of which a TTM molecule has three. It is therefore less than surprising that during this SRN1

Studies on the syntheses of β-carboline alkaloids brevicarine and brevicolline

• Benedek Batizi,
• Patrik Pollák,
• András Dancsó,
• Péter Keglevich,
• Gyula Simig,
• Balázs Volk and
• Mátyás Milen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 955–963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.79

• position 4 of β-carboline by cross-coupling reactions. Thanks to its scalability, this novel approach ensures a broad accessibility to the target compound for potential pharmacological measurements. Using detailed NMR studies, the NMR signals have been assigned for both the base and its dihydrochloride

• , versatile key triflate intermediate 3, which allowed the introduction of substituents attached by a C–C bond to position 4 of the β-carboline scaffold by cross-coupling reactions. Sonogashira reaction of compound 3 with N-(3-butynyl)phthalimide (4) led to coupled compound 5. Cleavage of the phthalimide

Photocatalyzed elaboration of antibody-based bioconjugates

• Marine Le Stum,
• Eugénie Romero and
• Gary A. Molander

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 616–629, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.49

• particularly useful and important tool in which azides and other dipolar species engage with reactive alkenes and alkynes on non-canonical amino acids [20]. Transition-metal-mediated processes, including metathesis reactions, aryl cross-coupling reactions, and conjugate addition reactions with dehydroalanine

Synthesis of N-acetyl diazocine derivatives via cross-coupling reaction

• Thomas Brandt,
• Pascal Lentes,
• Jeremy Rudtke,
• Michael Hösgen,
• Christian Näther and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 490–499, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.36

• switching efficiency in aqueous solutions. In order to investigate the chemistry of this promising photoswitch and to unlock further applications, we now investigate strategies for the synthesis of derivatives, which are based on cross-coupling reactions. Fourteen vinyl-, aryl-, cyano-, and amino

• substitution. Substituents such as halogen atoms must be introduced into the N-acetyl diazocine structure during the synthesis of the building blocks. In the present work we start from mono- and dihalogenated N-acetyl diazocine 2–4 (Figure 2) and focus on the further derivatization via cross-coupling reactions

• except the preparation of the aminoaniline building block tert-butyl (2-amino-5-bromophenyl)carbamate (5), which was prepared by Boc-protection of the 5-bromo-2-nitroaniline (6) and subsequent reduction of the nitro group (see Supporting Information File 1, section II.1). Cross-coupling reactions Stille

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

• . While transition metals such as copper, palladium, cobalt, and nickel are well-established in catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, J. Cornella et al. have highlighted the reactivity of main-group elements like bismuth, which can mimic transition-metal behavior through oxidative addition. In their recent

• 9,10-dicyanoanthracene radical anion (DCA•−) [29]. This system effectively drives photoredox-mediated reduction and C–C cross-coupling reactions under mild red-light conditions with various aryl halides, an aliphatic iodide, and O- and N-tosylated substrates (Scheme 4a). The authors discuss two

Recent advances in electrochemical copper catalysis for modern organic synthesis

• Yemin Kim and
• Won Jun Jang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 155–178, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.9

• stoichiometric quantities of a copper reagent [3]. This pioneering work, known as the “classical Ullmann reaction”, was extended by Ullmann and Goldberg to enable the C–N and C–O bond formation [4][5][6]. Subsequently, key developments in Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were achieved, including the

• amounts of copper reagents. Consequently, investigation into more practical and sustainable reactions remains an area of ongoing research [10]. Conventional cross-coupling reactions typically require C(sp2)-based electrophiles and nucleophiles as coupling partners. Generally, the reaction is initiated

• through oxidative addition, followed by transmetalation and reductive elimination, to obtain the desired product. Throughout the catalytic cycle, the catalyst undergoes conversion between [M]n and [M]n+2 (Figure 1) [11]. However, using alkyl electrophiles as coupling partners in cross-coupling reactions

Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed multicomponent reactions

• Sara Colombo,
• Camilla Loro,
• Egle M. Beccalli,
• Gianluigi Broggini and
• Marta Papis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 122–145, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.7

• Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, allowing the formation of C–C and C–N bonds in the o-position of the aryl chalcogen compounds. α-Aminophosphonates 14 were the result of a one-pot condensation of an aldehyde, a primary amine and phosphite P(OMe)3 with copper triflate acting as Lewis acid

Emerging trends in the optimization of organic synthesis through high-throughput tools and machine learning

• Pablo Quijano Velasco,
• Kedar Hippalgaonkar and
• Balamurugan Ramalingam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 10–38, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.3

• different conditions. This parallel reactor setup was successfully utilized for the multistep synthesis of 18 compounds of an anticonvulsant drug, employing various reaction pathways to perform photoredox carbon–nitrogen cross-coupling reactions. A parallel droplet flow system was developed by Eyke et al

Efficient synthesis of fluorinated triphenylenes with enhanced arene–perfluoroarene interactions in columnar mesophases

• Yang Chen,
• Jiao He,
• Hang Lin,
• Hai-Feng Wang,
• Ping Hu,
• Bi-Qin Wang,
• Ke-Qing Zhao and
• Bertrand Donnio

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3263–3273, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.270

• commercial perfluoroarene chemical blocks and reagents, involving catalyzed C–F-bond activation and cross-coupling reactions, usually requiring precious transition-metal catalysts and tedious synthetic routes [28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. Therefore, low-cost and facile synthetic strategies are desired to

Germanyl triazoles as a platform for CuAAC diversification and chemoselective orthogonal cross-coupling

• John M. Halford-McGuff,
• Thomas M. Richardson,
• Aidan P. McKay,
• Frederik Peschke,
• Glenn A. Burley and
• Allan J. B. Watson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3198–3204, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.265

• further diversification of the triazole products, including chemoselective transition metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions using bifunctional boryl/germyl species. Keywords: chemoselectivity; click chemistry; copper; germanium; triazole; Introduction Since its inception, click chemistry has been

• functionalisation strategies [76]. The germanyl group installed in the triazole products can be used as a reactive handle for further diversification including cross-coupling reactions. The CuAAC reaction and installation of functional groups for product diversification. Scope of germanyl acetylene CuAAC. Alkyne

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

• strategic approach allows precise control of the stereogenic centers at the C3-position during cyclization (Scheme 16). Ugi-4CR/metal-catalyzed reaction: The fusion of MCRs with cross-coupling reactions represents an attractive approach as a result of the increased intricacy and effectiveness [62]. Moreover

Synthesis of benzo[f]quinazoline-1,3(2H,4H)-diones

• Ruben Manuel Figueira de Abreu,
• Peter Ehlers and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2708–2719, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.228

• and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions followed by Brønsted acid-mediated cycloisomerisation. The developed methodology tolerates various functional groups and leads to moderate up to quantitative yields of the final products. The impact of different functional groups on the optical properties

• of palladium-catalysed Sonogashira–Hagihara and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions (Scheme 1). The final cyclisation step is accomplished by an acid-mediated cycloisomerisation. The synthesis of starting materials 4 was carried out by our previously reported protocol [65]. While compounds 4a–f

• known which allow for an individual introduction of substituents at both positions [37][38][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. In our previous work, we developed a new method which enables both positions to be independently functionalised by Sonogashira- and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling

Synthesis of fluoroalkenes and fluoroenynes via cross-coupling reactions using novel multihalogenated vinyl ethers

• Yukiko Karuo,
• Keita Hirata,
• Atsushi Tarui,
• Kazuyuki Sato,
• Kentaro Kawai and
• Masaaki Omote

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2691–2703, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.226

• fluoroenynes via Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions using novel multihalogenated fluorovinyl ethers, which are easily prepared from the reaction between phenols and 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (halothane). These reactions make use of the unique structure of multihalogenated

• fluorovinyl ethers, which contains a reactive bromine atom, to afford a series of fluoroalkenes and fluoroenynes in moderate to high yields. Keywords: fluoroalkenes; fluoroenynes; multihalogenated vinyl ethers; Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions; Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions; Introduction

• chlorine atoms as reported by Hosoya and Niwa et al. In this study, we investigated the synthesis of fluoroalkenes 2 or fluoroenynes 3 by Suzuki–Miyaura or Sonogashira cross-couplings with a key building block 1 (Scheme 1D). Results and Discussion Optimization of the conditions of cross-coupling reactions

Transition-metal-free synthesis of arylboronates via thermal generation of aryl radicals from triarylbismuthines in air

• Yuki Yamamoto,
• Yuki Konakazawa,
• Kohsuke Fujiwara and
• Akiya Ogawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2577–2584, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.216

• are one of the fundamental aryl compounds in organic synthesis, especially in cross-coupling reactions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9], and their applications are widespread, including dye synthesis, pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis, and industrial manufacturing [10][11]. In recent years, a

A review of recent advances in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical late-stage functionalization classified by anodic oxidation, cathodic reduction, and paired electrolysis

• Nian Li,
• Ruzal Sitdikov,
• Ajit Prabhakar Kale,
• Joost Steverlynck,
• Bo Li and
• Magnus Rueping

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2500–2566, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.214

• cathodic reduction and to prevent the reoxidation of the reduced SO2 at the anode, a divided cell setup is required (Scheme 12). C–H bond halogenation: Aryl and alkyl halides are important synthetic building blocks for cross-coupling reactions as well as bioactive molecules with applications in

Generation of alkyl and acyl radicals by visible-light photoredox catalysis: direct activation of C–O bonds in organic transformations

• Mithu Roy,
• Bitan Sardar,
• Itu Mallick and
• Dipankar Srimani

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1348–1375, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.119

• –halogen bond formation, as well as C–H functionalization [27]. Some notable examples include C–H arylation, various cross-coupling reactions, oxidative coupling, and photocatalytic radical reactions. The advantages of visible-light-induced photoredox catalysis are due to the ability to utilize visible

• nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aryl halides to deliver the desired cross-coupled products. Interestingly, in absence of any xanthate, sec-butyl radicals underwent cross-coupling reactions with aryl halides to form sec-butyl arenes, whereas in the presence of xanthate, no undesired sec

• -butyl arenes were generated. This underpinned the formation of sec-butyl radicals in the system that rapidly reacted with O-benzyl xanthates before participating in the nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Precatalyst [Ni(dtbbpy)(H2O)4]Cl2 (50) and photosensitizer [Ir(dF(CF3)ppy)2(bpy)]PF6 (49

Synthesis and optical properties of bis- and tris-alkynyl-2-trifluoromethylquinolines

• Stefan Jopp,
• Franziska Spruner von Mertz,
• Peter Ehlers,
• Alexander Villinger and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1246–1255, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.107

• ][23], dyes, preservatives and as ligands in complex chemistry [24][25][26][27]. In the context of our interest in the application of cross-coupling reactions to polyhalogenated heterocycles [28][29][30][31], we studied Sonogashira reactions of brominated 2-trifluoromethylquinolines. The optical

• cross-coupling reactions of various acetylenes containing electron-rich and electron-withdrawing functional groups, like methoxy or cyano, as well as thienyl and cyclopropyl groups. In general, all products were achieved in very good yields, ranging from 71 to 99%. Only product 6h, containing a TMS

Manganese-catalyzed C–C and C–N bond formation with alcohols via borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen auto-transfer

• Mohd Farhan Ansari,
• Atul Kumar Maurya,
• Abhishek Kumar and
• Saravanakumar Elangovan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1111–1166, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.98

• importance in organic synthesis and is widely used in the pharmaceutical and other chemical industries. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are one of the compelling methods for building C–C and C–N bonds [1][2]. However, using organohalide reagents and harsh reaction conditions in this process

• are of substantial importance for the fine chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and natural products [25]. The synthesis of amine derivatives can be accomplished using many powerful techniques, including Buchwald–Hartwig and Ullmann cross-coupling reactions, hydroamination

• , hydroaminomethylation, reduction of nitriles and nitro compounds or through reductive amination of carbonyl derivatives [26][27][28][29][30]. However, for example, cross-coupling reactions with alkyl or aryl halides generate considerable amounts of waste (Scheme 2A). Even though many different approaches exist for

(Bio)isosteres of ortho- and meta-substituted benzenes

• H. Erik Diepers and
• Johannes C. L. Walker

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 859–890, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.78

• esterification of alcohol (±)-5 gave redox active ester (±)-6, which was itself shown to be a suitable substrate for nickel-catalysed decarboxylative cross coupling reactions to aryl-substituted BCPs (±)-7. Oxidation of alcohol (±)-8 gave acid (±)-9 which yielded amine (±)-10 after a Curtius rearrangement

• decarboxylation then yields 1,2-cubane 88. This synthesis reduced the number of synthetic steps from eight, in the previously known patented synthesis from 2007 [54], to four. MacMillan and co-workers also developed a number of decarboxylative cross-coupling reactions to allow access to an even wider range of 1,2

• conditions in the transformation of alcohol 153 to aldehyde 154. All of these transformations could be performed without reduction in diastereomeric ratio. Additionally, the authors showed that acid 152 can undergo nickel-catalysed decarboxylative cross coupling reactions via redox active ester 156 to afford

Ortho-ester-substituted diaryliodonium salts enabled regioselective arylocyclization of naphthols toward 3,4-benzocoumarins

• Ke Jiang,
• Cheng Pan,
• Limin Wang,
• Hao-Yang Wang and
• Jianwei Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 841–851, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.76

• for the synthesis of functional materials via cross-coupling reactions. Next, we extended our investigation to 1-naphthol in this reaction, and found that the arylation of 1-naphthol was achieved selectively at the C-2 position. The cascade cyclization resulted in the corresponding products 3an and

Mechanisms for radical reactions initiating from N-hydroxyphthalimide esters

• Carlos R. Azpilcueta-Nicolas and
• Jean-Philip Lumb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 346–378, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.35

• of parameters with which to control reactivity. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the different mechanisms for radical reactions involving NHPI esters, with an emphasis on recent applications in radical additions, cyclizations and decarboxylative cross-coupling reactions. Within these

• years and in the past, they were perceived as fleeting reaction intermediates. Recent progress in photoredox catalysis [6][7][8], electrochemistry [9][10], and the use of transition-metal (TM) catalysts in radical cross-coupling reactions [11] have dramatically expanded the use of radicals in synthesis

Nucleophilic functionalization of thianthrenium salts under basic conditions

• Xinting Fan,
• Duo Zhang,
• Xiangchuan Xiu,
• Bin Xu,
• Yu Yuan,
• Feng Chen and
• Pan Gao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 257–263, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.26

• the resulting products (3ah–aj) can also be obtained with high efficiency. This underscores the viability of integrating this metal-free thioetherification method with other traditional cross-coupling reactions. Sterically hindered ortho-disubstituted thiophenol 2k is also compatible with this

Visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization: a catalyst-free synthetic approach to trifluoromethylated heterocycles

• Chuan Yang,
• Wei Shi,
• Jian Tian,
• Lin Guo,
• Yating Zhao and
• Wujiong Xia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 118–124, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.12

• their biological activity and potential applications, continuous efforts have been dedicated to the synthesis of DHPI derivatives. Various synthetic strategies have been explored (Scheme 1), including transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions [8][9][10], annulation reaction of carbenoids [11

Biphenylene-containing polycyclic conjugated compounds

• Cagatay Dengiz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1895–1911, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.141

• through Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions with alkynes featuring different protecting groups such as TIPS, TES, and TIBS. Scheme 7 illustrates the derivatization process using one of the chosen examples, specifically the TIPS group. Accordingly, the cross-coupling products 33a–c were obtained in yields