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

Regioselective formal hydrocyanation of allenes: synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated nitriles with α-all-carbon quaternary centers

• Seeun Lim,
• Teresa Kim and
• Yunmi Lee

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 800–806, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.63

• by the regio- and stereoselective allylation with p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide. The proposed methodology is efficient for accessing acyclic β,γ-unsaturated nitriles with α-all-carbon quaternary centers and achieves yields up to 99% and excellent regio- and E-selectivity. The reaction proceeds under mild

• catalysis; hydrocyanation; regioselectivity; tosyl cyanide; Introduction Acyclic nitriles that incorporate α-all-carbon quaternary centers are highly valuable structural motifs typically found in natural products, biologically active compounds, and synthetic pharmaceuticals [1][2][3][4][5]. These compounds

• bonds is one of the most efficient and atom-economical approaches for synthesizing alkyl nitriles [15][16]. Among the potential substrates, allenes have attracted significant attention because of their unique structural features, which consist of two orthogonal and contiguous C=C bonds. This dual π

Sequential two-step, one-pot microwave-assisted Urech synthesis of 5-monosubstituted hydantoins from L-amino acids in water

• Wei-Jin Chang,
• Sook Yee Liew,
• Thomas Kurz and
• Siow-Ping Tan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 596–600, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.46

• ]. Furthermore, several methods for hydantoin synthesis have been reported. The modified Bucherer–Bergs reaction using nitriles or methyleneaziridines with organometallic reagents gave moderate yields of 40–77% and 48–75%, respectively [7][8]. Amino acids remain key building blocks, with approaches involving

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

• diazocine 23 in yields of 61% from bromide 2 and 81% from iodide 3 (Scheme 3). Nitriles are a good starting point for further functional group interconversions [39]. Photochemical characterization With these new N-acetyl diazocine derivatives at hand we turned towards the photochemical characterization, in

Synthesis of electrophile-tethered preQ₁ analogs for covalent attachment to preQ₁ RNA

• Laurin Flemmich and
• Ronald Micura

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 483–489, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.35

• of the electrophile. We thus identified aldehydes 9 and 10 as suitable branching points, which were easily derivatized to their aminomethyl-modified preQ1 analogs by reductive amination (Scheme 3). Their syntheses by Raney-Ni reduction of nitriles 7 and 8, previously described by Gangjee and co

Molecular diversity of the reactions of MBH carbonates of isatins and various nucleophiles

• Zi-Ying Xiao,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 286–295, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.21

• conditions in hands, the scope of the reaction was investigated by using various MBH nitriles of isatins and aromatic amines in the reaction. The results are summarized in Scheme 1. All reactions proceeded smoothly to give the expected allylic SN2-substituted products 3a–i in satisfactory yields. Aromatic

• promoter is needed in the reaction, which is assumed to be due to the much higher reactivity of MBH maleimides of isatins compared to the above-mentioned MBH nitriles and formats of isatins. The single crystal structures of the compounds 5a and 5j were successfully determined (Figure 1 and Figure 2). From

• very different to that of the above mentioned reactions of MBH nitriles and formates of isatins. It has been reported that triphenylphosphine can catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of MBH carbonates of isatins with some activated alkenes to give diverse spirooxindoles [38][39][40][41]. The reaction of

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

• (Figure 15) [70]. In this catalytic system, catalytic amounts of Cu(sBOX) (L3) and Co(salen) complexes promote the formation of chiral nitriles 89 in the presence of PhSiH3 (88) as the hydride source and TMSCN (21) as the cyanide source via the effective sequential addition of a hydrogen atom and a CN

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

• intermediate XXXV. Finally, the final product 35 is yielded via a 1,3-hydride shift. The reaction between diazo derivatives, nitriles, and azodicarboxylates catalyzed by Cu(OTf)2 is an efficient synthetic method to obtain 2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazole derivatives 36 (Scheme 27) [45]. The reaction proceeds via a

• [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between azodicarboxylates and nitrile ylides XXXVI as 1,3-dipoles. The latter are generated from diazoalkanes under the coordination of the copper catalyst to form a carbenoid species that undergoes nucleophilic attack of the nitriles. This transformation has

Synthesis of acenaphthylene-fused heteroarenes and polyoxygenated benzo[j]fluoranthenes via a Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura/C–H arylation cascade

• Merve Yence,
• Dilgam Ahmadli,
• Damla Surmeli,
• Umut Mert Karacaoğlu,
• Sujit Pal and
• Yunus Emre Türkmen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3290–3298, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.273

• -dialkynylnaphthalenes 10 and nitriles that gives rise to the formation of multi-substituted azafluoranthenes 11 in high yields (Scheme 1c) [42]. Contemporaneously, in their work on the synthesis of fluoranthenes, Nagashima, Tanaka and co-workers demonstrated the use of methyl cyanoformate and isocyanates in Rh(I

Tunable full-color dual-state (solution and solid) emission of push–pull molecules containing the 1-pyrindane moiety

• Anastasia I. Ershova,
• Sergey V. Fedoseev,
• Konstantin V. Lipin,
• Mikhail Yu. Ievlev,
• Oleg E. Nasakin and
• Oleg V. Ershov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3016–3025, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.251

• acid both in solution and in the solid state. Keywords: dual-state emission; full-color emission; nitriles; push–pull molecules; pyrindane; stilbazole; Introduction Over the past decades, heteroaromatic push–pull molecules have attracted great attention due to their widespread use in materials

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

• of complex B with TBHP gives complex D, which transfers tert-butylperoxy radical E to the C-centered radical F to yield the target peroxide 52 (Scheme 19). The α-peroxidation of nitriles with hydroperoxides was developed by Kharasch and Sosnovsky in 1958 on the example of the Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction

• carried out without solvent and at room temperature, using copper(II) acetate as the catalyst. The reaction pathway of tert-butyl perbenzoate synthesis from benzyl nitriles 60 involves the formation of intermediate D. The Kornblum–DeLaMare rearrangement of peroxide D gives benzoyl cyanide E, which is

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

• various substituents on the aromatic ring. Additionally, a variety of substituted esters, ketones, and nitriles were found to be compatible with the reaction. Additionally, the same approach was used for the aryl sulfonylation. Trisubstituted allylic sulfones 35 were synthesized by reacting MBH acetate 33

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

• > secondary. Functional groups such as silyloxy, amides, ethers, esters, enolizable ketones, and nitriles were found to be compatible with this transformation. Late-stage functionalization of different molecules was demonstrated; for example, the azidation of ibuprofen occurred preferentially at the secondary

Deuterated reagents in multicomponent reactions to afford deuterium-labeled products

• Kevin Schofield,
• Shayna Maddern,
• Yueteng Zhang,
• Grace E. Mastin,
• Rachel Knight,
• Wei Wang,
• James Galligan and
• Christopher Hulme

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2270–2279, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.195

• utility for the drug-hunting community at large. Competitive examples of D2-benzylamine formation via phenyl-nitriles. Proposed tentative mechanism of [D3]-formamide formation via modified Leuckart–Wallach reaction with [D2]-formic acid. Ugi-4CR products: no deuterium scrambling observed. Ugi-3CR products

From perfluoroalkyl aryl sulfoxides to ortho thioethers

• Yang Li,
• Guillaume Dagousset,
• Emmanuel Magnier and
• Bruce Pégot

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2108–2113, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.181

• ][16], anilines [17], carbonyls [18][19][20][21], propargyl/allylsilanes [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34], ynamides [35][36][37], and alkyl nitriles [38][39][40], were found to be suitable for this process. Whereas the addition of fluorine atoms to molecules is a well-established

• -cyanoalkylation of benzoyl or ester group-substituted fluoroalkyl aryl sulfoxides with various alkyl nitriles in two steps [48]. The addition of a base in the second step easily enabled the [3,3]-rearrangement, allowing for the addition of two functional groups – the cyano group and difluoromethylthio group – to

• using a series of nitriles with the sulfoxide 1a (Scheme 3). We noticed that the length of the alkyl chain has no impact on the yield (3a,b). However, the use of benzyl cyanide is completely deleterious for the reaction as no product was observed (3c). The presence of a chlorine atom at the alpha

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

• pyrazoles 61 are accessible in a consecutive three-component fashion (Scheme 18) [77]. The reaction exhibits regioselectivity in many cases, attributed to steric influences. Aldehydes and nitriles with an activated methylene group, such as malononitrile, are well-known for being potent precursors of α,β

Harnessing the versatility of hydrazones through electrosynthetic oxidative transformations

• Aurélie Claraz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1988–2004, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.175

• hydrazones [77]. Electrooxidative coupling of benzophenone hydrazones and alkenes [77]. Electrosynthesis of α-diazoketones [78]. Electrosynthesis of stable diazo compounds [80]. Photoelectrochemical synthesis of alkenes through in situ generation of diazo compounds [81]. Synthesis of nitriles [82

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

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

• synthesis; electrophotocatalysis; radical decarboxylation; Introduction Alkylnitriles and their derivatives are widely found in pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds [1][2][3]. In addition, within the field of synthetic organic chemistry, nitriles are synthetically useful handles that can be

• readily converted into a myriad of functional groups including carbonyls, amines, imines, and a variety of heterocyclic scaffolds with well-established procedures [4][5][6][7][8][9]. In particular, tertiary nitriles are common structural motifs in many bioactive compounds and are widely used as

• functional handles for further elaboration. Notably, tertiary arylacetic acids can also be well tolerated to yield nitriles with quaternary carbon centers in good yields (17 and 18). Simple carboxylic acids without functional groups at the alpha position to stabilize the corresponding carbon centered

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

• , 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

• , which leads to the formation of a considerable amount of waste [52][53][54]. The BH approach allows a sustainable way for building C–C bonds by coupling abundant and cheap alcohols with ketones, nitriles, esters, and amides [4]. C–C Bond formation via alkylation of ketones with alcohols Several

• conditions provided the alkylated products with up to 72% yield at 80 °C (Scheme 52). C-C Bond formation via alkylation of nitriles with alcohols In 2018, an in situ-generated manganese catalytic system for the α-alkylation of nitriles using primary alcohols was studied [80]. Various substituted nitriles

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

• moiety is introduced in a late-stage-modification approach, mostly from nitriles or isocyanides (Figure 1b) [13]. On the other hand, accessing diverse tetrazole scaffolds from MCRs, typically involves first de novo construction of the tetrazole scaffold and subsequent post-modifications (Figure 1c) [14

Three-component N-alkenylation of azoles with alkynes and iodine(III) electrophile: synthesis of multisubstituted N-vinylazoles

• Jun Kikuchi,
• Roi Nakajima and
• Naohiko Yoshikai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 891–897, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.79

• ], and sulfonic acids [31]. On the other hand, nitrogen-based nucleophiles amenable to this reaction manifold have thus far been limited to nitriles in the context of Ritter-type iodo(III)amidation [29]. In light of the significance of vinylated azoles, our attention was attracted to the feasibility of

(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

• 109 (Scheme 12A) [58]. The formed products all contained a pendant primary iodide group and the synthesis was additionally shown to be tolerant of functional groups including protected amines (in 110c), protected alcohols (in 110d) and nitriles (in 110e). Grygorenko and co-workers accessed fluorine

Advancements in hydrochlorination of alkenes

• Daniel S. Müller

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 787–814, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.72

• oxidation, whereas in Nicewicz's report, the alkene is oxidized. This modification allows for a significantly larger reaction scope (Scheme 29). Terminal alkenes and several functional groups such as ethers (163), esters (165), ketones (166), nitriles (167), and enones (170) are tolerated. The

Copper-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of β-trifluoromethyl β-diazo esters enabling the synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl N,N-diacyl-β-amino esters

• Youlong Du,
• Haibo Mei,
• Ata Makarem,
• Ramin Javahershenas,
• Vadim A. Soloshonok and
• Jianlin Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 212–219, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.21

• example, Wan and co-workers developed a cascade reaction of α-diazo esters, nitriles, and carboxylic acids via the generation of nitrile ylides and Mumm rearrangement affording unsymmetric diacyl α-amino acid esters as products (Scheme 1a) [39]. In 2017, Zhang, Hu, and co-workers developed a Cu-catalyzed

• [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49], we sought to develop reactions of the unexplored β-trifluoromethyl β-diazo esters. We hypothesized that nitrile ylides, in situ generated from nitriles and β-trifluoromethyl β-amino esters, could also react with carboxylic acids to give nitriliums, which then could

• undergo a Mumm rearrangement to provide unsymmetrical β-trifluoromethyl diacyl-β-amino esters as products (Scheme 1c). Herein, we report our results on the design of β-trifluoromethyl β-diazo esters and their application in a three-component reaction with nitriles and carboxylic acids under mild