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

• interesting transformation of cinnamic acid to its derivatives can be achieved through decarboxylative cross-coupling. Recently, Wang and co-workers (2024) reported the Ag-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of cinnamic acids with isocyanide to give the corresponding amides 258–260. The reaction involves

Recent advances in controllable/divergent synthesis

• Jilei Cao,
• Leiyang Bai and
• Xuefeng Jiang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 890–914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.73

• team designed a new class of acetylene carbonate reagents and successfully applied them to copper-catalyzed decarboxylative amination/hydroamination sequences (Scheme 18) [48]. By controlling acidic and basic reaction conditions, the authors achieved the controllable synthesis of two types of

• decarboxylative amination/hydroamination sequence [48]. Proposed mechanism of copper-catalyzed decarboxylative amination/hydroamination sequence [48]. Enantioselective chemodivergent three-component radical tandem reactions [49]. Substrate-controlled synthesis of indoles and 3H-indoles [52]. Controlled mono- and

Entry to 2-aminoprolines via electrochemical decarboxylative amidation of N‑acetylamino malonic acid monoesters

• Olesja Koleda,
• Janis Sadauskis,
• Darja Antonenko,
• Edvards Janis Treijs,
• Raivis Davis Steberis and
• Edgars Suna

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 630–638, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.50

• 10.3762/bjoc.21.50 Abstract The electrochemical synthesis of 2-aminoprolines based on anodic decarboxylation–intramolecular amidation of readily available N-acetylamino malonic acid monoesters is reported. The decarboxylative amidation under Hofer–Moest reaction conditions proceeds in an undivided cell

• in three steps (62% overall yield) from commercially available diethyl acetamidomalonate by an alkylation/hydrolysis/Boc-cleavage sequence (Scheme 1). The development of decarboxylative amidation commenced by examining the published conditions for anodic decarboxylation/etherification [4

• feature at Ep = 1.78 V vs Ag/Ag+ (100 mV/s scan rate; see Figure 3A), and the electrolysis of pyrrolidine 6a under the optimized anodic decarboxylative cyclization conditions (entry 8, Table 1) afforded cyclic hemiaminal 12a (33% NMR yield), whose structure was proved by NMR experiments (Figure 3B). The

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

• final products, however, it can be released after a decarboxylative or reductive reaction (β-position), allowing the use of ethyl glyoxylate as a C1 building block. This strategy was explored by Miranda et al., who first obtained a series of γ-lactams 56 and isoindolinones 57 using ammonium persulfate

Photomechanochemistry: harnessing mechanical forces to enhance photochemical reactions

• Francesco Mele,
• Ana M. Constantin,
• Andrea Porcheddu,
• Raimondo Maggi,
• Giovanni Maestri,
• Nicola Della Ca’ and
• Luca Capaldo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 458–472, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.33

• benefits of the photomechanochemical approach in the field of synthesis [77]. Specifically, they developed photomechanochemical conditions for the atom-transfer-radical addition (ATRA) of sulfonyl chlorides to alkenes, pinacol coupling of carbonyl compounds, decarboxylative acylation, and photocatalyzed [2

• enables solvent-free conditions for this transformation (Scheme 11B). Here, the aggregation state of the substrate and the reductant proved to be crucial to establish a fully operative protocol. The third reaction tested under mechanophotocatalytic conditions was the well-established decarboxylative

• reactions: A) atom-transfer-radical addition, B) pinacol coupling, C) decarboxylative alkylation, D) [2 + 2] cycloaddition. The photo in Scheme 11 was reproduced from [77] (© 2024 F. Millward et al., published by Wiley-VCH GmbH, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

Dioxazolones as electrophilic amide sources in copper-catalyzed and -mediated transformations

• Seungmin Lee,
• Minsuk Kim,
• Hyewon Han and
• Jongwoo Son

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 200–216, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.12

• depicted in Figure 2. The reaction is initiated by formation of the five-membered copper-containing intermediate INT-5 through coordination of Cu(OAc)2 with the N-iminoquinolinium ylide species 5. This process is followed by decarboxylative N–O bond insertion into 4, yielding the N-acyl copper(III

• ) chloride reacts with boronic acids, forming the copper aryl complex INT-16, which then undergoes decarboxylative N–O bond insertion to generate the copper nitrenoid intermediate INT-17. Thereafter, nitrene insertion into the copper–carbon bond occurs, forming a new C(sp2)–N bond (INT-18). Finally, the

• and silane, undergoes the enantio-determining hydrocupration of the vinylarene, affording INT-25 [25]. Next, oxidative insertion of INT-25 into the N–O bond of the dioxazolone, forms INT-26, followed by decarboxylative reductive elimination to generate INT-27. Further incorporation of silane delivers

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

• catalysis to organic synthesis, focusing on recent developments in Cu-catalyzed electrochemical reaction categorized into four types: 1) C–H functionalization, 2) olefin addition, 3) decarboxylative functionalization, and 4) coupling reactions (Figure 3). This review aims to provide insight into the

• desired annulation products. Moreover, the same products were generated using alkynyl carboxylic acids instead of terminal alkynes via decarboxylative C–H alkynylation and annulation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies exhibited an oxidative current at 0.95 V vs SCE in the presence of the Cu(II) salt, base

• Cu(I)CN catalyst 108. The Cu(II)CN catalyst 109 is regenerated via anodic oxidation to complete its catalytic cycle. Decarboxylative functionalization Carboxylic acids are inexpensive, readily available, structurally diverse from both natural and synthetic sources, and easy to handle. Recently

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

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

• were explored, using a total volume of 4.5 mL reaction mixture, and the screening results can be readily translated to continuous flow synthesis. The application of segmented flow or microslug reactors was demonstrated in the decarboxylative arylation cross-coupling reaction promoted by catalysts and

• -flow pattern using a Y-shaped mixer, followed by the suspension of the catalyst via a T-mixer. This technology was utilized to develop selective and efficient decarboxylative fluorination reactions. Recently, a slug flow platform was developed (Figure 3a) by injecting segments of gas as a separating

Advances in the use of metal-free tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as catalysts

• Mandeep K. Chahal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3085–3112, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.257

• transformations of biomolecules, such as thiol–yne reaction and decarboxylative alkynylation. The thiol–yne reaction of cyclohexanethiol (90) with phenylacetylene (89) in the presence of 1 mol % of H2TPP (18) under red LED irradiation provided the desired product 91 in up to 85% yield while the decarboxylative

• in red light-induced C–X-bond formation on biologically relevant molecules 95–97, based on a thiol–yne reaction and decarboxylative alkynylation protocol (Figure 17d). Last year, Moyano and colleagues reported on amino-functionalized porphyrins as bifunctional organophotocatalysts, effectively

Advances in radical peroxidation with hydroperoxides

• Oleg V. Bityukov,
• Pavel Yu. Serdyuchenko,
• Andrey S. Kirillov,
• Gennady I. Nikishin,
• Vera A. Vil’ and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2959–3006, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.249

• in situ-generated Cu(I) complexes was developed (Scheme 23) [43]. 2-Phenylbutane (64) was converted into peroxide 65 in a 70% yield with 4% ee. A visible light-induced direct decarboxylative peroxidation of carboxylic acids 66 with the formation of peroxides 67 under metal-free conditions using Mes

Recent advances in transition-metal-free arylation reactions involving hypervalent iodine salts

• Ritu Mamgain,
• Kokila Sakthivel and
• Fateh V. Singh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2891–2920, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.243

• salt, subsequently leading to decarboxylative C–C coupling. Notably, this method achieves the incorporation of two fluorine atoms in the benzyl position without resorting to hazardous fluorination reagents, transition-metal catalysts, or organometallic compounds. The utility of this reaction is

Copper-catalyzed yne-allylic substitutions: concept and recent developments

• Shuang Yang and
• Xinqiang Fang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2739–2775, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.232

• , 6a–w). Interestingly, both Cu(I) and Cu(II) can promote the reaction and the reaction is not sensitive to water (Scheme 7, 6g). The intramolecular decarboxylative yne-allylic substitution can also be achieved (Scheme 8, 6a–u). O-Nucleophiles and C-nucleophiles are all suitable reactants, yielding

• . Amine-participated asymmetric yne-allylic substitution. Asymmetric decarboxylative yne-allylic substitution. Asymmetric yne-allylic alkoxylation and alkylation. Proposed mechanism for Cu(I) system. Asymmetric yne-allylic dialkylamination. Proposed mechanism of yne-allylic dialkylamination. Asymmetric

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

Benzylic C(sp³)–H fluorination

• Alexander P. Atkins,
• Alice C. Dean and
• Alastair J. J. Lennox

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1527–1547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.137

• fluorides have also been reviewed, such as through deoxyfluorination, C–X fluorination, or decarboxylative fluorination [22][31][32][33]. However, a comprehensive review that focusses specifically on benzylic C–H bonds is still currently missing in the literature. Therefore, we aim to cover reports that

Electrophotochemical metal-catalyzed synthesis of alkylnitriles from simple aliphatic carboxylic acids

• Yukang Wang,
• Yan Yao and
• Niankai Fu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1497–1503, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.133

• .20.133 Abstract We report a practical and sustainable electrophotochemical metal-catalyzed protocol for decarboxylative cyanation of simple aliphatic carboxylic acids. This environmentally friendly method features easy availability of substrates, broad functional group compatibility, and directly

• ][18]. Owing to the prevalence of aliphatic carboxylic acids in biomass and natural products, decarboxylative cyanation represents one of the most straightforward and attractive approaches to accessing alkylnitriles [19][20]. As an elegant example, Barton demonstrated the application of redox-active

• esters, the so called "Barton esters", for decarboxylative cyanation of aliphatic acids with tosyl cyanide as the nitrile source under visible light irradiation at room temperature [21][22]. Although two synthetic steps are required, this is the first practical decarboxylative cyanation protocol because

Bioinformatic prediction of the stereoselectivity of modular polyketide synthase: an update of the sequence motifs in ketoreductase domain

• Changjun Xiang,
• Shunyu Yao,
• Ruoyu Wang and
• Lihan Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1476–1485, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.131

• ) [3][4]. The building blocks for PKS biosynthesis often include malonyl-CoA or methylmalonyl-CoA, which are loaded onto the ACP by the AT domain. Subsequently, the KS domain catalyzes the decarboxylative Claisen condensation between the ACP-tethered extender unit and the KS-tethered growing chain. The

(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

• -cubanes (Scheme 9B) [51]. Partial deprotection of diester 88 led to acid 89 as a key intermediate and in situ activation of the acid as the hypervalent iodine complex enabled a photoredox decarboxylative amination to 1,2-cubane 90. Alternatively, conversion of the acid moiety of 89 to redox active esters

Substrate specificity of a ketosynthase domain involved in bacillaene biosynthesis

• Zhiyong Yin and
• Jeroen S. Dickschat

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 734–740, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.67

• : the acyl transferases (AT) for loading of the starter or extender units, the acyl carrier proteins (ACP) for anchoring the growing polyketide chain, and the ketosynthases (KS) for merging of the next extender unit with the existing chain by a decarboxylative Claisen condensation [2][4]. Today a high

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

• many applications as radical precursors. Mechanistically, NHPI esters undergo a reductive decarboxylative fragmentation to provide a substrate radical capable of engaging in diverse transformations. Their reduction via single-electron transfer (SET) can occur under thermal, photochemical, or

• 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

• reaction classes, we discuss the utility of the NHPI esters, with an eye towards their continued development in complexity-generating transformations. Keywords: decarboxylative couplings; mechanisms; NHPI-esters; radical reactions; Introduction The historical challenges of using radicals in synthetic

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

• groundbreaking work of Shang and Fu on photocatalytic decarboxylative alkylations in 2019, a wide range of organic transformations, such as alkylation, alkenylation, cyclization, amination, iodination, and monofluoromethylation, have been progressively achieved using a combination of iodide and PPh3. In this

• review, we primarily focus on summarizing the recent advancements in inexpensive and readily available iodide/phosphine-mediated photoredox radical transformations. Keywords: annulation; decarboxylative; iodide/phosphine; photocatalytic; radical reaction; Introduction Over the past few decades

• decarboxylative alkylation reaction that was facilitated by the synergistic action of a cost-effective and easily accessible NaI/PPh3 catalyst system (Scheme 1). This system offered an alternative to the use of precious metals or complex organic dyes as catalysts. The developed NaI/PPh3-based system not only

Decarboxylative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of amino acids for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds

• Xiaofeng Zhang,
• Xiaoming Ma and
• Wei Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1677–1693, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.123

• Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China 10.3762/bjoc.19.123 Abstract The [3 + 2] cycloadditions of stabilized azomethine ylides (AMYs) derived from amino esters are well-established. However, the reactions of semi-stabilized AMYs generated from decarboxylative condensation of α-amino acids

• group on the α-carbon atom are semi-stabilized (Scheme 1) [16]. The B1-type AMYs can be generated from the decarboxylative condensation of aldehydes with α- and N-dialkylglycines or from cyclic amino acids (such as proline) [31][32][33], while AMYs of type B2 are accessible through the decarboxylative

• condensation of N-dialkylglycines [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. The N–H-type semi-stabilized AMYs B3 are generated through decarboxylative condensation of arylaldehydes with α-alkylglycines, while B4-type AMYs are derived from the reaction of glycine [52][53][54][55

Radical ligand transfer: a general strategy for radical functionalization

• David T. Nemoto Jr,
• Kang-Jie Bian,
• Shih-Chieh Kao and
• Julian G. West

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1225–1233, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.90

• report, it augured the potential of RLT to be a general strategy in synthetic method development, with modern examples including new alkene addition reactions and decarboxylative functionalizations (Scheme 2). Recent applications of RLT in catalysis Upon the discovery and initial exploration of the RLT

• decarboxylative functionalization Aside from its strategic application in alkene difunctionalization methods, RLT has also found synthetic utility in radical decarboxylative reactions. Radical decarboxylative functionalization reactions to form C–X bonds have been demonstrated, with bond construction being

• proposed to follow one of two pathways: formation of a carbocation through RPC followed by nucleophilic attack or direct RLT from a redox-active metal complex. Preliminary evidence for a radical decarboxylation/RLT cascade was reported in 1965, when Kochi demonstrated decarboxylative chlorination of

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

Photoredox catalysis enabling decarboxylative radical cyclization of γ,γ-dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) derivatives: formal synthesis of 6,7-secoagroclavine

• Alessio Regni,
• Francesca Bartoccini and
• Giovanni Piersanti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 918–927, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.70

• Alessio Regni Francesca Bartoccini Giovanni Piersanti Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Carlo Bo Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino, PU, Italy 10.3762/bjoc.19.70 Abstract An unusual photoredox-catalyzed radical decarboxylative cyclization cascade reaction of γ,γ

• accomplish by more conventional procedures, enables the synthesis of ergot alkaloid precursors. In addition, this work describes a mild, environmentally friendly method to activate, reductively and oxidatively, natural carboxylic acids for decarboxylative C–C bond formation by exploiting the same

• photocatalyst. Keywords: decarboxylative cyclization; DMAT; ergot alkaloids; photoredox catalysis; radicals; Introduction Visible-light photoredox catalysis is rapidly changing the way organic chemists approach the design and synthesis of molecules by offering new synthetic disconnection opportunities that