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

• rearrangements. Most organic molecules are colorless and, in fact, do not absorb visible light: highly energetic UV irradiation is typically needed. A milder approach is offered by photocatalytic approaches. Here, a photocatalyst is added to the reaction mixture to convert light energy into chemical potential to

Beyond symmetric self-assembly and effective molarity: unlocking functional enzyme mimics with robust organic cages

• Keith G. Andrews

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 421–443, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.30

• hydrophobic [160] products have been popular, including hydrolyses, ring openings, and rearrangements [22]. These reaction classes have been discussed [24][25][140]. Cavity-directed changes in ion-localization [161][162] and pKa are effective [37][107][163][164], and size-selectivity [36][165][166][167] and

Three-component reactions of conjugated dienes, CH acids and formaldehyde under diffusion mixing conditions

• Dmitry E. Shybanov,
• Maxim E. Kukushkin,
• Eugene V. Babaev,
• Nikolai V. Zyk and
• Elena K. Beloglazkina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 262–269, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.18

• the signal of the CH–O group at 5.03 ppm, as well as by ethyl bromide, which indicated the predominance of isomer 4a in the mixture. For isomers 5, preferential formation of dibromide 23 and products of carbocationic rearrangements containing an ester group, the precursor of which was compound 5b

Hypervalent iodine-mediated intramolecular alkene halocyclisation

• Charu Bansal,
• Oliver Ruggles,
• Albert C. Rowett and
• Alastair J. J. Lennox

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3113–3133, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.258

• , deuterium labelling, rearrangements on stereodefined substrates, and structural analyses (NMR and X-ray) of the reaction products. RT-NMR-derived data strongly supported a pathway of alkene activation by the iodane, as opposed to the formation of an N-I(III) adduct. The presence of 5-exo-products, with

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

• , sigmatropic rearrangements have established themselves as robust and versatile tools for many transformations in organic synthesis [1][2][3]. They were widely employed with a wide range of substrates. With a peculiar type of scaffold, S-perfluoroalkyl aryl sulfoxides, in 2009, we were the first to demonstrate

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

Understanding X-ray-induced isomerisation in photoswitchable surfactant assemblies

• Beatrice E. Jones,
• Camille Blayo,
• Jake L. Greenfield,
• Matthew J. Fuchter,
• Nathan Cowieson and
• Rachel C. Evans

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2005–2015, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.176

• effect, but also as the medium for structural rearrangements. Effect of acidification The effect of acidification on isomerisation was further investigated using UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy, where excess hydrobromic acid (HBr) was added to AzoTAB and AAPTAB samples (25 μM) that had been preirradiated

Chemo-enzymatic total synthesis: current approaches toward the integration of chemical and enzymatic transformations

• Ryo Tanifuji and
• Hiroki Oguri

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1693–1712, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.151

• phase catalyzed by BscA. (B) Oxidation phase and scaffold rearrangements by modification enzymes. Chemo-enzymatic total synthesis of cotylenol (1) and brassicicenes. (A) Chemical cyclization phase. (B) Chemical and enzymatic oxidation phase. (A) Biosynthetic pathway for trichodimerol (2) in Penicillium

Oxidative hydrolysis of aliphatic bromoalkenes: scope study and reactivity insights

• Amol P. Jadhav and
• Claude Y. Legault

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1286–1291, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.111

• gained popularity due to their commercial availability [1][2][3][4][5] and versatility for phenolic dearomatizations, oxidative annulations, fragmentations, and oxidative rearrangements [6][7][8][9][10][11]. In particular, iodine(III) reagents have been proven effective for a wide range of oxidative

Stability trends in carbocation intermediates stemming from germacrene A and hedycaryol

• Naziha Tarannam,
• Prashant Kumar Gupta,
• Shani Zev and
• Dan Thomas Major

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1189–1197, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.101

• isoprenoid allylic carbocation has the capability to engage in standard carbocation reactions, including cyclization via intramolecular olefin attack at the positively charged center, Wagner–Meerwein rearrangements, and hydride or proton shifts. This sequence concludes either through deprotonation, resulting

(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

• , respectively (Scheme 12B) [58]. Saponification of the ester moieties in these species followed by Curtius rearrangements then led to amines 114 and 116. Non-natural amino acid derivatives 113 and 117 are intermediates prepared using these methods that could be of interest to medicinal chemistry. Alcohol 111

Skeletal rearrangement of 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-4-ols promoted by thionyl chloride or Appel conditions

• Martyn Jevric,
• Julian Klepp,
• Johannes Puschnig,
• Oscar Lamb,
• Christopher J. Sumby and
• Ben W. Greatrex

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 823–829, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.74

• -cleavage reactions and rearrangements when modified at the 4-position [15][16][17]. Baillargeon and Reddy first reported rearrangements of 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives promoted by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) [18], and later Karban and co-workers reported a migration of oxygen from

• angle of 176°, explaining the preference for the different skeletal rearrangements in the two possible configurations at C4 in these rigid ring systems [19][21]. The involvement of the ring-oxygen in nucleophilic displacement reactions in 1,6-anhydroglucose derivatives has also been invoked to explain

Ligand effects, solvent cooperation, and large kinetic solvent deuterium isotope effects in gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroamination

• Ruichen Lan,
• Brock Yager,
• Yoonsun Jee,
• Cynthia S. Day and
• Amanda C. Jones

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 479–496, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.43

• are apparent from others’ HOTf control studies. First, a “simple” Bronsted acid-catalyzed mechanism that is possible with sulfonamides (i.e., with HOTf catalyst) is not operating here. Second, more complex acid-mediated rearrangements observed with ureas (authors propose a hetero-ene mechanism with

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

Electron-beam-promoted fullerene dimerization in nanotubes: insights from DFT computations

• Laura Abella,
• Gerard Novell-Leruth,
• Josep M. Ricart,
• Josep M. Poblet and
• Antonio Rodríguez-Fortea

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 92–100, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.10

• with irreversible C–C fusions [7]. In phase 1, a [2 + 2] cycloadduct C120 dimer is formed, which was initially proposed to be with Cs symmetry, in contrast to the X-ray structure for the C120 dimer that shows D2h symmetry [3][9]. In phase 2, irreversible structural rearrangements occur leading to a

Functional characterisation of twelve terpene synthases from actinobacteria

• Anuj K. Chhalodia,
• Houchao Xu,
• Georges B. Tabekoueng,
• Binbin Gu,
• Kizerbo A. Taizoumbe,
• Lukas Lauterbach and
• Jeroen S. Dickschat

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1386–1398, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.100

• rearrangements. During the past decades numerous enzymes have been characterised from all branches of life. Only considering type I terpene synthases, after the identification of the 5-epi-aristolochene (1) synthase from Nicotiana tabacum [1] and the casbene (2) synthase from Ricinus communis [2] (Figure 1

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

• azides for a wide range of both activated (benzylic) and unactivated carboxylic acids. Control reactions support the intermediacy of alkyl radicals and the absence of carbocation rearrangements in a variety of probe substrates disfavor the reaction proceeding via RPC. Intriguingly, no additional oxidant

Synthesis of imidazo[4,5-e][1,3]thiazino[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazines via a base-induced rearrangement of functionalized imidazo[4,5-e]thiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazines

• Dmitry B. Vinogradov,
• Alexei N. Izmest’ev,
• Angelina N. Kravchenko,
• Yuri A. Strelenko and
• Galina A. Gazieva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1047–1054, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.80

• closely related hybrid compounds including fragments of 1,3-thiazine and imidazo-1,2,4-triazine is still highly relevant. Earlier we have demonstrated that imidazo[4,5-e]thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazines and their derivatives functionalized at position 6 are capable of undergoing skeletal rearrangements and

• spectra of compounds 4a and 5a in DMSO-d6 in the region of 4.3–9.0 ppm. 13C NMR GATED spectra of compounds 4a and 5a in DMSO-d6 in the region of 156.0–168.0 ppm. General view of 5a in the crystal in thermal ellipsoid representation (p = 80%). Base-induced transformations and rearrangements of

Copper-catalyzed N-arylation of amines with aryliodonium ylides in water

• Kasturi U. Nabar,
• Bhalchandra M. Bhanage and
• Sudam G. Dawande

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1008–1014, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.76

• in oxidation, C–C, C–X bond formation, rearrangements, and halogenation reactions [23][24][25]. Due to the nontoxic nature, easier preparation, and handling of the hypervalent iodine reagents, many researchers are attracted to unravel the chemistry and reactivity of these reagents. Amongst different

Bromination of endo-7-norbornene derivatives revisited: failure of a computational NMR method in elucidating the configuration of an organic structure

• Demet Demirci Gültekin,
• Arif Daştan,
• Yavuz Taşkesenligil,
• Cavit Kazaz,
• Yunus Zorlu and
• Metin Balci

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 764–770, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.56

• rearrangements, as postulated by Novitskiy and Kutateladze do not occur spontaneously from neutral compounds without the intermediacy of carbocations. As it turns out, compound 3 in the authors’ scheme is one of the products we described in our original manuscript and is perfectly stable thermally and does not

Strategies in the synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]heteropines

• David I. H. Maier,
• Barend C. B. Bezuidenhoudt and
• Charlene Marais

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 700–718, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.51

• authors postulated an intramolecular electrophilic substitution via a carbocation intermediate 42 (Scheme 9). Elliott et al. [47] investigated several methods to synthesise substituted dibenzo[b,f]azepines, which included the ring expansion of N-arylindoles 41 to synthesise 43 and the rearrangements of 9

Germacrene B – a central intermediate in sesquiterpene biosynthesis

• Houchao Xu and
• Jeroen S. Dickschat

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 186–203, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.18

• this multistep process is initiated by the abstraction of diphosphate to produce an allyl cation that subsequently undergoes typical cation reactions such as cyclisations by intramolecular attack of an olefin to the cationic centre, Wagner–Meerwein rearrangements, hydride or proton shifts. The process

Revisiting the bromination of 3β-hydroxycholest-5-ene with CBr₄/PPh₃ and the subsequent azidolysis of the resulting bromide, disparity in stereochemical behavior

• Christian Schumacher,
• Jas S. Ward,
• Kari Rissanen,
• Carsten Bolm and
• Mohamed Ramadan El Sayed Aly

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 91–99, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.9

• ·OEt2 [12]. All of those results confirmed the involvement of regio- and stereospecific i-steroid and retro-i-steroid rearrangements. Later, tetrabutylammonium halides were used as cost effective and stable alternatives of TMS-based reagents [15]. Treatment of compound 4 (Scheme 1) with NaN3 in

Combining the best of both worlds: radical-based divergent total synthesis

• Kyriaki Gennaiou,
• Antonios Kelesidis,
• Maria Kourgiantaki and
• Alexandros L. Zografos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1–26, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.1

• from ent-kaurane diterpenoids through carbocationic rearrangements [42]. Jungermatrobrunin A (89) [43] bears a highly oxidized scaffold with a unique bicyclo[3.2.1]octene backbone and an unprecedented peroxide bridge (Scheme 7). Natural product (−)-1α,6α-diacetoxyjungermannenone C (88) [43] was

Efficient synthesis of aziridinecyclooctanediol and 3-aminocyclooctanetriol

• Emine Salamci and
• Ayse Kilic Lafzi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1539–1543, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.163

• versatility in numerous regio- and stereoselective ring opening and/or expansion reactions, as well as rearrangements [5]. The aziridine structural motif is present in natural products such as mitomycins and azinomycins (Figure 1) [1][5], which exhibit potent biological activities such as antitumor and