Synthetic approach to borrelidin fragments: focus on key intermediates

• Yudhi Dwi Kurniawan,
• Zetryana Puteri Tachrim,
• Teni Ernawati,
• Faris Hermawan,
• Ima Nurasiyah and
• Muhammad Alfin Sulmantara

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1135–1160, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.91

• efficient design and synthesis of borrelidin fragments, aiding the advancement of borrelidin-based drug development. Future research in this area should continue to explore novel synthetic strategies to optimize the synthesis and functionalization of borrelidin fragments, further supporting their potential

Investigations of amination reactions on an antimalarial 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine scaffold

• Henry S. T. Smith,
• Ben Giuliani,
• Kanchana Wijesekera,
• Kah Yean Lum,
• Sandra Duffy,
• Aaron Lock,
• Jonathan M. White,
• Vicky M. Avery and
• Rohan A. Davis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1126–1134, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.90

• resistant parasites [1]. Open Source Malaria (OSM) is a drug development and medicinal chemistry platform established by Matthew Todd formerly of The University of Sydney (currently at University College London) with funding from the product development partnership platform, Medicines for Malaria Venture

4-(1-Methylamino)ethylidene-1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine-2,3-diones: synthesis, anti-inflammatory effect and in silico approaches

• Nguyen Tran Nguyen,
• Vo Viet Dai,
• Luc Van Meervelt,
• Do Thi Thao and
• Nguyen Minh Thong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 817–829, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.65

• necessary to elucidate the toxicological profiles of compounds 5c and 5e prior to consideration for drug development. Analysis of reactivity descriptors The primary reactivity descriptors, such as frontier molecular orbital energies (EHOMO and ELUMO), energy gap (ΔEL-H), ionization energy (IE), electron

• ± 9.93 µM). The integration of synthetic approaches, structural studies, computational analyses, and experimental validations underscores the potential of 4-(1-methylamino)ethylidene-1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine-2,3-diones, particularly compound 5e, as effective candidates for anti-inflammatory drug

• development targeting iNOS-related pathologies. Future research should prioritize extensive in vivo studies and clinical evaluations to further explore their therapeutic potential and safety profiles. Experimental Experimental methods All chemicals were purchased from Merck, Sigma-Aldrich and Acros without

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated derivatives of aromatic and γ-branched amino acids via a chiral Ni(II) complex

• Maurizio Iannuzzi,
• Thomas Hohmann,
• Michael Dyrks,
• Kilian Haoues,
• Katarzyna Salamon-Krokosz and
• Beate Koksch

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 659–669, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.52

• -natural amino acids are pivotal in protein engineering and drug development. Over 30% of approved small‑molecule drugs today contain non‑canonical amino acid building blocks [1][2]. In peptide and protein engineering, non‑natural amino acids significantly increase the respective range of tools used to

Quantifying the ability of the CF₂H group as a hydrogen bond donor

• Matthew E. Paolella,
• Daniel S. Honeycutt,
• Bradley M. Lipka,
• Jacob M. Goldberg and
• Fang Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 189–199, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.11

• . We expect this information to be useful for the rational application of the CF2H group in drug development and molecular design. Previous quantum mechanical calculations revealed that the CF2H···O binding energy (ΔE) ranges from 1.0 kcal/mol to 5.5 kcal/mol [14][15][18][21]. In addition, as measured

Chemical structure metagenomics of microbial natural products: surveying nonribosomal peptides and beyond

• Thomas Ma and
• John Chu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3050–3060, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.253

• structure. We argue that, whether it is for the purpose of finding new lead compounds for drug development or gaining a deeper understanding in life science, the field of natural product research may benefit from placing chemical structure front and center. A few examples are described herein to illustrate

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

• the active Ru(II) species, completing the catalytic cycle (Scheme 38). This approach underlines the potential of ruthenium catalysis in achieving site-selective functionalization of complex molecules, thereby expanding the toolkit available for organic synthesis and drug development. 1.3.5 Rh-assisted

Finding the most potent compounds using active learning on molecular pairs

• Zachary Fralish and
• Daniel Reker

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2152–2162, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.185

• risky real-world drug development applications where each additional lead might provide an alternative pathway to mitigate toxicities or other compound liabilities. This further attests to the power of our pairing approach and shows that tree-based machine learning models can also benefit from the

• during medicinal chemistry projects. We believe that ActiveDelta and other pairwise approaches show particular promise for adaptive machine learning when training data hungry neural networks on limited data and can serve as accurate platforms to guide lead optimization and prioritization during drug

• development. Comparison of active learning approaches. (A) Classic exploitative active learning uses individual molecular representations to predict absolute property values to select the most promising molecule from the learning set to add into the training set. (B) ActiveDelta learning uses paired molecular

Computational toolbox for the analysis of protein–glycan interactions

• Ferran Nieto-Fabregat,
• Maria Pia Lenza,
• Angela Marseglia,
• Cristina Di Carluccio,
• Antonio Molinaro,
• Alba Silipo and
• Roberta Marchetti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2084–2107, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.180

• docking plays a crucial role in computer-aided drug development, allowing systematic evaluation of compound libraries to identify high-affinity lead compounds for specific targets. Bio-algorithms enable modelling protein tertiary structures, predicting ligand binding pockets, and supporting drug discovery

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

Syntheses and medicinal chemistry of spiro heterocyclic steroids

• Laura L. Romero-Hernández,
• Ana Isabel Ahuja-Casarín,
• Penélope Merino-Montiel,
• Sara Montiel-Smith,
• José Luis Vega-Báez and
• Jesús Sandoval-Ramírez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1713–1745, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.152

• the future design of more potent and selective drugs. Keywords: biological activity; drug development; heterocycle; spiro steroid; synthetic transformations; Introduction Small-ring heterocycles constitute valuable scaffolds in medicinal chemistry for generating biologically active derivatives

Methyltransferases from RiPP pathways: shaping the landscape of natural product chemistry

• Maria-Paula Schröder,
• Isabel P.-M. Pfeiffer and
• Silja Mordhorst

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1652–1670, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.147

• -inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anti-parkinsonian [7][8]. This diverse profile makes RiPPs particularly valuable for various therapeutic and medicinal applications. Generally, peptide natural products are promising drug development candidates due to their intermediate molecular weight, which

• CsrA, which is a promising target for new anti-infective compounds. However, drug development is hampered by poor cellular uptake [86][87]. In the biosynthesis of cypemycin in Streptomyces sp. OH-4156, CypM adds two methyl groups to the N-terminal alanine residue. Cypemycin has a very narrow activity

• will be a useful tool for drug development; it will be intriguing to observe what the future holds. Schematic representation of the different acceptor regions for the methylation of RiPPs discussed in this article. Schematic overview of different methylation strategies for amino acids and peptides

Enhancing structural diversity of terpenoids by multisubstrate terpene synthases

• Min Li and
• Hui Tao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 959–972, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.86

• terpenoids via genome mining. Nevertheless, for drug development, the accumulated terpene skeletons still require further functionalization, which requires additional genome-mining efforts for the discovery of tailored enzymes. Researchers have successfully expanded the chemical space of terpenoid

Innovative synthesis of drug-like molecules using tetrazole as core building blocks

• Jingyao Li,
• Ajay L. Chandgude,
• Qiang Zheng and
• Alexander Dömling

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 950–958, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.85

• Institute, Palackӯ University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic 10.3762/bjoc.20.85 Abstract Tetrazole is widely utilized as a bioisostere for carboxylic acid in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug development, enhancing the drug-like characteristics of various molecules. Typically, tetrazoles are

• complexity of chemical synthesis towards novel drugs has almost doubled from eight chemical steps to an average of 14 in 2021 [1]. Therefore, the need for robust reactions compatible with many functional groups in complex molecules is an integral part in contemporary medicinal chemistry and drug development

• , metabolic stability, conformational rigidity, and potency [7][8][9]. Recently, the use of the tetrazole moiety in drug development has been increased and exhibited prevalent occurrence in bioactive compounds; being present in more than 20 marketed drugs with a very broad range of biological activities such

Synthesis of new representatives of A₃B-type carboranylporphyrins based on meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin transformations

• Victoria M. Alpatova,
• Evgeny G. Rys,
• Elena G. Kononova and
• Valentina A. Ol'shevskaya

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 767–776, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.70

• compounds in drug development [34][35][36][37]. Owing to their stability, carboranes also may increase the in vivo stability and bioavailability of pharmaceuticals that might otherwise rapidly metabolize [38]. The functionalization of porphyrins with carborane clusters provides dual-action photo(radio

Methodology for awakening the potential secondary metabolic capacity in actinomycetes

• Shun Saito and
• Midori A. Arai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 753–766, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.69

• mentioned above, various substances and changes in the concentrations of metal ions can affect secondary metabolism, and secondary metabolite production may thus be activated by these factors [110]. Conclusion Natural products hold great potential as leads in drug development and as useful tools in chemical

Chemical and biosynthetic potential of Penicillium shentong XL-F41

• Ran Zou,
• Xin Li,
• Xiaochen Chen,
• Yue-Wei Guo and
• Baofu Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 597–606, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.52

• antibiotic mycophenolic acid originally isolated by Gosio in the 1890s [2], the important antibiotic penicillin was characterized more than one decade after Fleming discovered the antibacterial activity of a Penicillium extract, and since then, Penicillium has been an important target in drug development

Green and sustainable approaches for the Friedel–Crafts reaction between aldehydes and indoles

• Periklis X. Kolagkis,
• Eirini M. Galathri and
• Christoforos G. Kokotos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 379–426, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.36

• to agriculture, since there is a need for the development of new greener fungicidal and antiviral agents that can combat the more common plant diseases [11]. One instance of their antiviral property being implemented in drug development involves the treatment of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), which

• and viability of these synthetic protocols, organic chemists have been opting towards the use of greener catalysts and solvents in drug development. Chemists dream to perform reactions under solvent-free conditions, which provide a greener approach towards organic transformations. Nowadays, the use of

Effects of the aldehyde-derived ring substituent on the properties of two new bioinspired trimethoxybenzoylhydrazones: methyl vs nitro groups

• Dayanne Martins,
• Roberta Lamosa,
• Talis Uelisson da Silva,
• Carolina B. P. Ligiero,
• Sérgio de Paula Machado,
• Daphne S. Cukierman and
• Nicolás A. Rey

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1713–1727, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.125

• species (ROS) in vitro, which may be another mechanism through which the compound exerts its protective effects in the brain. From a drug development perspective, however, INHHQ has some pharmacological limitations, such as low solubility and certain susceptibility to hydrolysis in a water-rich medium

Synthesis and biological evaluation of Argemone mexicana-inspired antimicrobials

• Jessica Villegas,
• Bryce C. Ball,
• Katelyn M. Shouse,
• Caleb W. VanArragon,
• Ashley N. Wasserman,
• Hannah E. Bhakta,
• Allen G. Oliver,
• Danielle A. Orozco-Nunnelly and
• Jeffrey M. Pruet

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1511–1524, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.108

• the stark decrease in antimicrobial drug development in recent years [1] and due to the increasing rise of superbugs, or microorganisms that are resistant to more than one type of antimicrobial treatment, which are predicted by 2050 to cause 10 million deaths/year [2]. Staphylococcus aureus, for

Phenanthridine–pyrene conjugates as fluorescent probes for DNA/RNA and an inactive mutant of dipeptidyl peptidase enzyme

• Josipa Matić,
• Tana Tandarić,
• Marijana Radić Stojković,
• Filip Šupljika,
• Zrinka Karačić,
• Ana Tomašić Paić,
• Lucija Horvat,
• Robert Vianello and
• Lidija-Marija Tumir

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 550–565, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.40

• three amino acids. DPPIII participates in intracellular protein catabolism, which functions in pain modulation and oxidative stress. These biological functions make DPPIII a valuable target for drug development. Interestingly, although excimer emission was quenched, the pyrene monomer's emission was

CuAAC-inspired synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-bridged porphyrin conjugates: an overview

• Dileep Kumar Singh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 349–379, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.29

• yields, quick reaction times, and excellent regioselectivity, the "click" cycloaddition reaction has enabled the synthesis of several compounds with a wide range of applications in a variety of sectors, including bioconjugation [5][6] drug development [7][8], glycoscience [9][10], porphyrin chemistry [11

Synthetic study toward the diterpenoid aberrarone

• Liang Shi,
• Zhiyu Gao,
• Yiqing Li,
• Yuanhao Dai,
• Yu Liu,
• Lili Shi and
• Hong-Dong Hao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1625–1628, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.173

• products have found myriad use in new drug development, exemplified by ET-743 and eribulin [1]. Back in 1990s, Rodriguez and co-workers isolated a rich array of terpenoid natural products from the Caribbean sea whip, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae with unprecedented carbon skeleton, most of which showed

Characterization of a new fusicoccane-type diterpene synthase and an associated P450 enzyme

• Jia-Hua Huang,
• Jian-Ming Lv,
• Liang-Yan Xiao,
• Qian Xu,
• Fu-Long Lin,
• Gao-Qian Wang,
• Guo-Dong Chen,
• Sheng-Ying Qin,
• Dan Hu and
• Hao Gao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1396–1402, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.144

• Research / International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China Clinical Experimental Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630

• , including traditional isolation from nature [5][6][7][8] and chemical synthesis [9], have been made to expand the structural diversity of FC-type diterpenoids for drug development. Along with the development of low-cost sequencing technologies and tractable heterologous expression systems, genome mining has

Scope of tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalines in CuAAC reactions for the synthesis of triazoloquinoxalines, imidazoloquinoxalines, and rhenium complexes thereof

• Laura Holzhauer,
• Chloé Liagre,
• Olaf Fuhr,
• Nicole Jung and
• Stefan Bräse

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1088–1099, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.111

• ; tetrazole; triazole; Introduction Quinoxalines are amongst the most versatile N-heterocyclic compounds, combining a straightforward synthesis with a diverse set of possible functionalizations and a wide range of applications in drug development and materials sciences [1]. Different quinoxaline derivatives