Recent advances in allylation of chiral secondary alkylcopper species

• Minjae Kim,
• Gwanggyun Kim,
• Doyoon Kim,
• Jun Hee Lee and
• Seung Hwan Cho

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 639–658, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.51

• -trifluoromethylalkenes 38 with hydrosilanes and allylic chlorides 40 (Scheme 14b) [55]. In their work, a chiral α-CF3 alkylcopper intermediate 39 was formed through the regio- and enantioselective hydrocupration of electron-deficient alkenes 38 with an in situ-generated CuH species. Subsequent electrophilic trapping of

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

• the substrate, an activated ester 25, subsequently generating carbon-centered radicals without the need for sacrificial electron donors via a decarboxylation process. In reacting with electron-deficient alkenes or alkynes 26, these radicals further yield tetralin and dialin moieties 27, respectively

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

• loading, providing an alternative strategy for 1,2-diamine synthesis (Figure 16) [71]. This reaction successfully expanded the substrate scope from electron-rich to electron-deficient alkenes, which were considered challenging substrates in previous diazidation reactions. A possible mechanism is proposed

Multicomponent syntheses of pyrazoles via (3 + 2)-cyclocondensation and (3 + 2)-cycloaddition key steps

• Ignaz Betcke,
• Alissa C. Götzinger,
• Maryna M. Kornet and
• Thomas J. J. Müller

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2024–2077, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.178

• al. used this for the regioselective one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles 175 by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes (Scheme 59) [177]. The reaction is carried out in air to oxidize an intermediary

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

• and is entirely redox-neutral. The authors have shown that simple cesium alkyl oxalates of tertiary alcohols can easily couple with electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of visible light. Initially, the [Ir(III)] photocatalyst is excited to the long-lived higher-energy state *[Ir(III)]. Then, the

• success of the reaction. The reaction was well compatible with various N-phthalimidoyl oxalates (i.e., 31h–k) as well as electron-deficient alkenes (i.e., 31l–o). Xanthates: In 2017, Molander and co-workers [51] introduced a C(sp3)–C(sp2) cross-coupling reaction of benzyl radicals generated from o-benzyl

• (Scheme 16). This one-pot strategy involved the reaction of xanthates formed in situ with electron-deficient alkenes under visible-light photoredox conditions in the presence of PPh3. This approach did not require multistep synthesis of starting materials. In addition, alcohol groups in polyols could be

Transition-metal-catalyst-free electroreductive alkene hydroarylation with aryl halides under visible-light irradiation

• Kosuke Yamamoto,
• Kazuhisa Arita,
• Masami Kuriyama and
• Osamu Onomura

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1327–1333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.116

• high regioselectivity. Herein, we report the electroreductive hydroarylation of electron-deficient alkenes and styrene derivatives using (hetero)aryl halides under mild reaction conditions. Notably, the present hydroarylation proceeded with high efficiency under transition-metal-catalyst-free

• = −2.06 V vs SCE in MeCN [47]). In the case of the reaction with electron-deficient alkenes, e.g., methyl acrylate (E1/2 = −2.1 V vs SCE) [60], reduction of alkenes is one of the competitive processes. Subsequent fragmentation of radical anion 1•− to form aryl radical species A, which then reacts with

• , including aryl chlorides, by employing 1,3-DCB under visible-light irradiation. The present transformation proceeded smoothly in a common organic solvent without transition-metal catalysts, and hydroarylation products were obtained from a variety of electron-deficient alkenes and styrene derivatives in good

(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

• (±)-30. In a related strategy, Procter and co-workers prepared 1,2-BCHs (±)-33a–e from BCBs 32 via a SmI2-catalysed radical relay alkene insertion (Scheme 3C) [35]. This approach relied on single-electron reduction of the ketone moiety and ring-expansion from the ketyl radical anion. Electron-deficient

• alkenes including acrylates, vinyl sulfones, and acrylamides could all be incorporated and the number of accessible bifunctional 1,2-BCHs was increased further by chemical transformation (Scheme 3D) [35]. Among the reported transformations were reduction of the ketone (to (±)-34), hydrolysis of the

Perspectives on push–pull chromophores derived from click-type [2 + 2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization reactions of electron-rich alkynes and electron-deficient alkenes

• Michio Yamada

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 125–154, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.13

• ) reactions involving diverse electron-rich alkynes and electron-deficient alkenes. In this review, a comprehensive investigation of the recent and noteworthy advancements in the research on push–pull chromophores prepared via the [2 + 2] CA–RE reaction is conducted. In particular, an overview of the

• optoelectronics) [1][2]. The synthesis of push–pull chromophores is often achieved through click-type reactions between electron-rich alkynes and electron-deficient alkenes, which is a reliable and atom-economical method. Diverse chromophores can be obtained via this method, depending upon the choice of alkynes

• properties of push–pull chromophores remain fragmented. Thus, the primary objective of this review is to consolidate the developments in the research on push–pull chromophores prepared via [2 + 2] CA–RE reactions between electron-rich alkynes and electron-deficient alkenes across various domains of chemistry

Synthetic approach to 2-alkyl-4-quinolones and 2-alkyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxamides based on common β-keto amide precursors

• Yordanka Mollova-Sapundzhieva,
• Plamen Angelov,
• Danail Georgiev and
• Pavel Yanev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1804–1810, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.132

• -mediated domino reaction of chromone-3-carboxaldehydes and amines [41], Pd-catalyzed redox-neutral C–N coupling reaction of iminoquinones with electron-deficient alkenes [42], NH3 insertion into o‑haloarylynones [43], gold(III)-catalyzed azide-yne cyclization [44], Michael/Truce-Smiles rearrangement

The unique reactivity of 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridine in the Huisgen 1,4-diploar cycloaddition and formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition

• Xiu-Yu Chen,
• Hui Zheng,
• Ying Han,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 982–990, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.73

• ][59][60][61][62][63][64], herein, we wish to report the use of 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridines as electron-deficient alkenes in the Huisgen 1,4-diploar cycloaddition and as electron-rich alkenes in formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions for the efficient synthesis of isoquinolino[1,2-f][1,6

Redox-active molecules as organocatalysts for selective oxidative transformations – an unperceived organocatalysis field

• Elena R. Lopat’eva,
• Igor B. Krylov,
• Dmitry A. Lapshin and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1672–1695, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.179

• perform the CH-functionalization of alkanes by electron-deficient alkenes. Photoredox catalysis was employed for the one-electron oxidation of the DABCO-derived organocatalyst to the dication radical. The authors noted that the introduction of a substituent X near the radical center further improves the

• -coupling involving aldehyde C–H bond cleavage. DABCO-derived cationic catalysts in inactivated C–H bond cleavage for alkyl radical addition to electron-deficient alkenes under photoredox catalysis conditions. Electrochemical diamination and dioxygenation of vinylarenes catalyzed by triarylamines

Tri(n-butyl)phosphine-promoted domino reaction for the efficient construction of spiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-indolines] and spiro[indoline-3,2'-furan-3',3''-indolines]

• Hui Zheng,
• Ying Han,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 669–679, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.68

• the construction of diverse carbocyclic systems [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. In these reactions, the tertiary phosphine firstly adds to electron-deficient alkenes, alkynes, and allenes to give active ionic intermediates. Then, the in situ-generated ionic intermediates further react with various

Iron-catalyzed domino coupling reactions of π-systems

• Austin Pounder and
• William Tam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 2848–2893, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.196

• methodology was extended to the carbosilylation of olefins with carbon nucleophiles 108 including indoles, pyrroles, and 1,3-dicarbonyls. The scope of the reaction was broad and could tolerate a variety of functional groups; however, electron-deficient alkenes afforded the products in slightly diminished

Methodologies for the synthesis of quaternary carbon centers via hydroalkylation of unactivated olefins: twenty years of advances

• Thiago S. Silva and
• Fernando Coelho

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1565–1590, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.112

• reacted with electron-deficient alkenes (Giese-type addition) to form new C–C bonds in intra- and intermolecular fashions. The authors reported a great diversity of electron-deficient alkenes, including α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds like the usually less reactive acrylamide derivative 48c

Synthesis of 1-indolyl-3,5,8-substituted γ-carbolines: one-pot solvent-free protocol and biological evaluation

• Premansh Dudhe,
• Mena Asha Krishnan,
• Kratika Yadav,
• Diptendu Roy,
• Krishnan Venkatasubbaiah,
• Biswarup Pathak and
• Venkatesh Chelvam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1453–1463, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.101

• , alkyl N-arylideneglycinates have attracted much attention in recent years. For instance, the metal-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of ethyl N-benzylideneglycinates with electron-deficient alkenes has been reported to yield substituted pyrrolidines [30]. Recently, we reported the synthesis of

The preparation and properties of 1,1-difluorocyclopropane derivatives

• Kymbat S. Adekenova,
• Peter B. Wyatt and
• Sergazy M. Adekenov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 245–272, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.25

• . The carbene-based methods typically give the highest yields when alkenes with electron-donating substituents are used. There are few examples in which the cyclopropanation by carbene methods of electron-deficient alkenes containing substituents with a large −M effect (for example, CO2R, COR, CN, SO2R

• dibromodifluoromethane is a suitable source of difluorocarbene. However, the same reagent produces low yields in the reactions with electron-deficient alkenes. Dolbier et al. reported the cyclopropanation of α-methylstyrene (7) using dibromodifluoromethane and zinc dust in the presence of iodine (Scheme 3) [18]. The

• fluorosulfonyldifluoroacetate (TFDA) as a difluorocarbene source: Highly efficient methods for the difluorocyclopropanation of both electron-rich and electron-deficient alkenes using FSO2CF2COOSiMe3 (TFDA, 25) as a source of difluorocarbene were described by the Dolbier group in 2000 [13][35]. The difluorocarbene generated by

Recent developments in enantioselective photocatalysis

• Callum Prentice,
• James Morrisson,
• Andrew D. Smith and
• Eli Zysman-Colman

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 2363–2441, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.197

• -deficient alkenes 190 to synthesise cyclobutanes 191 (Scheme 28c) [83]. Recently, Bach et al. also employed this methodology for the intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of quinolones 192 containing either a pendant alkene or allene to obtain cyclobutanes 193 (Scheme 28d) [84]. Recently, ent-185 was applied

• the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 2-pyridones 186 and acetylenedicarboxylates 187 catalysed by ent-183 to give cyclobutenes 188 (Scheme 28b) [82]. Another intermolecular reaction was later developed, this time using catalyst 185 for the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of quinolones 189 and electron

Photoredox-catalyzed silyldifluoromethylation of silyl enol ethers

• Vyacheslav I. Supranovich,
• Vitalij V. Levin and
• Alexander D. Dilman

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1550–1553, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.126

• silane is very sensitive to Lewis bases and accordingly it was used as a precursor of difluorocarbene, which can react with enol ethers [19][20] (Scheme 1). We showed that this silane could be involved in the radical chain hydrofluoroalkylation of electron-deficient alkenes, using a boron hydride as a

Recent advances in photocatalyzed reactions using well-defined copper(I) complexes

• Mingbing Zhong,
• Xavier Pannecoucke,
• Philippe Jubault and
• Thomas Poisson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 451–481, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.42

• chlorides [20]. This ATRA reaction was carried out with various fluoroalkylsulfonyl chlorides, such as CFH2SO2Cl, CF2HSO2Cl, CF3SO2Cl, CF3CH2SO2Cl, and C4F9SO2Cl, electron-deficient alkenes, including α,β-unsaturated ketones, amides, esters, carboxylic acids, sulfones, and phosphonates (Scheme 4). In

• allylation of α-haloketones. [Cu(I)(dap)2]Cl-photocatalyzed chlorosulfonylation and chlorotrifluoromethylation of alkenes. Photocatalytic perfluoroalkylchlorination of electron-deficient alkenes using the Sauvage catalyst. Photocatalytic synthesis of fluorinated sultones. Photocatalyzed

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of organometallic reagents to challenging Michael acceptors

• Delphine Pichon,
• Jennifer Morvan,
• Christophe Crévisy and
• Marc Mauduit

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 212–232, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.24

• nucleophiles to electron-deficient alkenes (Michael acceptors) represents an efficient and attractive methodology for providing a wide range of relevant chiral molecules. In order to increase the attractiveness of this useful catalytic transformation, some Michael acceptors bearing challenging electron

• accomplished in this stimulating field. Keywords: acylimidazole; N-acyloxazolidinone; N-acylpyrrole; N-acylpyrrolidinone; aldehyde; amide; copper catalysis; electron-deficient alkenes; enantioselective conjugate addition; Michael acceptor; thioester; Introduction Generating high molecular complexity and

• controlling multiple stereogenic centers in a minimum number of steps is nowadays one of the most important challenges in organic chemistry for the synthesis of complex chiral molecules. The transition metal (TM)-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition (ECA) of nucleophiles to electron-deficient alkenes

1,5-Phosphonium betaines from N-triflylpropiolamides, triphenylphosphane, and active methylene compounds

• Vito A. Fiore,
• Chiara Freisler and
• Gerhard Maas

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2603–2611, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.253

• their isolation and structural characterization are still less common. A very convenient access to such betaines is provided by the nucleophilic addition of tertiary phosphanes to electron-deficient alkenes, alkynes and allenes (phospha-Michael addition), which generates the betaines as reactive

α,ß-Didehydrosuberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (DDSAHA) as precursor and possible analogue of the anticancer drug SAHA

• Shital K. Chattopadhyay,
• Subhankar Ghosh,
• Sarita Sarkar and
• Kakali Bhadra

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2524–2533, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.245

• derivative 11a [11]. Cross metathesis (CM) between a terminal alkene and an α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compound (or similar electron-deficient alkenes) has been used to prepare functionalized alkenes in several occasions [18][19][20]. We have recently reported the CM of a terminal alkene with a hydroxamic acid

Recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed incorporation of fluorine-containing groups

• Xiaowei Li,
• Xiaolin Shi,
• Xiangqian Li and
• Dayong Shi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2213–2270, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.218

• ] extended this approach to the directing-group-assisted copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of electron-deficient alkenes (Scheme 72b). Moreover, α-aryl and α-alkyl-substituted acrylate derivatives could be used as substrates to form the C(sp2)–CF3 bond with a complete Z-selectivity. A radical species

Synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines by formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of quinolinium salts

• Anthony Choi,
• Rebecca M. Morley and
• Iain Coldham

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1480–1484, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.149

• ). The adducts could be reduced, oxidised, or could undergo Suzuki–Miyaura coupling to give different substituted dihydro- and tetrahydroquinoline derivatives. Single crystal X-ray structure for 7c. Single crystal X-ray structure for 9. Reaction of ketone 1 with electron-deficient alkenes 2. Reactions of

• ester 4 and amide 5 with electron-deficient alkenes 6. Reactions of ester 4 and amide 5 with N-methylmaleimide. Reduction and oxidation of adducts 9 and 10. Formation of amides 15a and 15b and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling to yield 16. Supporting Information Supporting Information File 322: Experimental

Visible light-mediated difluoroalkylation of electron-deficient alkenes

• Vyacheslav I. Supranovich,
• Vitalij V. Levin,
• Marina I. Struchkova,
• Jinbo Hu and
• Alexander D. Dilman

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1637–1641, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.139

• Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Ling-Ling Road, Shanghai 200032, China 10.3762/bjoc.14.139 Abstract A method for the reductive difluoroalkylation of electron-deficient alkenes using 1,1-difluorinated iodides mediated by irradiation

• equivalents of the iododifluoromethyl carbanion [33][34][35][36]. We also demonstrated that iodides 1 can alkylate silyl enol ethers [37] under photoredox conditions [38][39][40]. However, the latter protocol is inapplicable to the addition to electron-deficient alkenes since a radical resulting from the

• addition step cannot be oxidized by photocatalysts. Herein we report a convenient method for performing hydroperfluoroalkylation of electron-deficient alkenes employing iodides 1 mediated by visible light. The reaction proceeds without the use of a photosensitizer or a photocatalyst. Generation of