A versatile route towards 6-arylpipecolic acids

• Erich Gebel,
• Cornelia Göcke,
• Carolin Gruner and
• Norbert Sewald

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1104–1115, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.88

• important role as building blocks for peptide synthesis [1][2][3][4][5], as organocatalysts [6][7][8][9][10] and as enzyme inhibitors [4][11][12][13]. The incorporation of such amino acids into peptides can, for example, influence peptide conformation, the binding affinity to receptors [14], as well as

Dicarboxylate recognition based on ultracycle hosts through cooperative hydrogen bonding and anion–π interactions

• Wen-Hui Mi,
• Teng-Yu Huang,
• Xu-Dong Wang,
• Yu-Fei Ao,
• Qi-Qiang Wang and
• De-Xian Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 884–889, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.72

• cellular metabolism; they regulate the activity of numerous enzyme receptors, and serve as intermediates in the synthesis of more complex biomolecules [21]. However, excessive consumption or production, as well as insufficient clearance of dicarboxylates, can lead to various health problems [22

• importance. Despite the development of a number of receptors for dicarboxylates [21][26][27], their recognition remains a challenging task due to their strong hydrophilicity (−400 kJ/mol) [28][29], dispersed negative charges at both ends, complex shapes, and flexible conformations. Moreover, the similar

Unraveling cooperative interactions between complexed ions in dual-host strategy for cesium salt separation

• Zhihua Liu,
• Ya-Zhi Chen,
• Ji Wang,
• Qingling Nie,
• Wei Zhao and
• Biao Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 845–853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.68

• separation [4][5][6][7][8]. Building on the extensive research into anion and cation receptors within the realm of supramolecular chemistry [9][10][11][12], numerous heteroditopic ion-pair receptors have been elaborately developed [13][14][15]. These receptors, consisting of binding sites for both anions and

• cations within a single molecule, have facilitated advancements in ion-pair recognition. This progress has led to the development of ion separation utilizing ion-pair receptors [16][17][18][19][20], which eliminate the need for auxiliary reagents to balance overall charges compared to the use of

• individual anion or cation receptors [21]. An alternative approach for ion separation involves the combination of an anion receptor and a cation receptor, known as the dual-host strategy [22][23][24]. Unlike ion-pair receptors, this strategy avoids the intricate, multi-step synthesis required for designing

Acyclic cucurbit[n]uril bearing alkyl sulfate ionic groups

• Christian Akakpo,
• Peter Y. Zavalij and
• Lyle Isaacs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 717–726, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.55

• are acyclic CB[n]-type receptors which have been extensively studied by our lab and others over the past decade [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Figure 1 shows the chemical structure of the prototypical acyclic CB[n]-type known as M1 [53][54]. M1 features a central glycoluril tetramer

• modular synthesis, acyclic CB[n] can be easily modified synthetically [42][43][44][45][46][47][61]. Acyclic CB[n]-type receptors featuring different length glycoluril oligomers (monomer–pentamer) and different aromatic walls (e.g., naphthalene, anthracene, triptycene) have been studied [42][62][63][64][65

• chemical shift (Δδ) for C1·guest. As the central hydrophobic binding domain of the guests we selected alkylene, p-xylylene, cyclohexane, and adamantane moieties that are known to bind well to (acyclic) CB[n] receptors [71][72][73]. The cross-sectional area of this hydrophobic moiety increases as follows

Origami with small molecules: exploiting the C–F bond as a conformational tool

• Patrick Ryan,
• Ramsha Iftikhar and
• Luke Hunter

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 680–716, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.54

• (III, Figure 11) [149]. These effects have been exploited to control the conformations of simple bioactive amines such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 86, Figure 11) [150][151][152][153][154][155]. GABA is a neurotransmitter that binds to a variety of different GABA receptors, and information about the

• target-binding conformations of GABA at these various receptors can be gleaned by investigating fluorinated GABA analogues (e.g., 87–90). For example, the enantiomeric analogues 87 and 88 have similar activity at the GABAA receptor, and this suggests that the binding conformation of GABA has an extended

• that it is not selective towards injured tissue: it also binds to μ-opioid receptors in healthy tissue, causing side-effects. To overcome this drawback, a fluorinated analogue of fentanyl ((±)-105) was developed [177]. The electron-withdrawing fluorine substituent of 105 lowers the pKaH of the

Binding of tryptophan and tryptophan-containing peptides in water by a glucose naphtho crown ether

• Gianpaolo Gallo and
• Bartosz Lewandowski

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 541–546, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.42

• receptors; molecular recognition; monosaccharides; tryptophan; Introduction Tryptophan plays a crucial role in a variety of biological processes [1][2]. For example, it is critical for electron transfer in proteins [3] and is a key component of several membrane proteins as well as short antimicrobial

• peptides [4][5]. Tryptophan also serves as a substrate to produce hormones such as serotonin or melatonin [6][7]. Due to the biological relevance of tryptophan synthetic receptors for this amino acid are highly sought after [8]. From a biological perspective it is especially desirable to achieve selective

• binding of tryptophan in water [9]. However, the development of selective amino acid receptors in aqueous environments is challenging since it requires a combination of hydrophobic and polar interactions for binding [10][11][12]. As a result, the number of reported selective receptors for tryptophan in

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

• methods in materials discovery are unlikely to discover solution-phase sensors or catalysts without a rational starting point to build from. Instead, new receptors [413] and catalysts [414][415][416] will likely arise from improvements in computational rationalization of experimental data [415][417

Chemical glycobiology

• Elisa Fadda,
• Rachel Hevey,
• Benjamin Schumann and
• Ulrika Westerlind

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 8–9, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.2

• in the glycosciences. A key aspect is the modelling of protein–glycan interactions. Marcisz et al. study the power of umbrella sampling in distinguishing the interactions between different glycosaminoglycans and their receptors [14]. Nieto-Fabregat et al. provide a detailed overview on computational

Multicomponent reactions driving the discovery and optimization of agents targeting central nervous system pathologies

• Lucía Campos-Prieto,
• Aitor García-Rey,
• Eddy Sotelo and
• Ana Mallo-Abreu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3151–3173, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.261

• to various enzymatic systems or receptors implicated in AD pathology. In 2019, Malek et al. [43] designed and obtained a new family of 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs), as a series of MTDLs, which were prepared using a multicomponent reaction, particularly the Hantzsch reaction (Scheme 9). The synthesized

• deacetylase substrate MAL to determine the inhibitory activity, and using sirtinol as positive control. When compared to sirtinol (IC50 = 67 µM), selected compounds showed moderate affinity towards SIRT2, with IC50 values ranging from 118 to 126 µM (Figure 10). Gewald reaction: Cannabinoid receptors have been

• heterocyclic core. The novel compounds were first evaluated using β-arrestin recruitment assays in CHO (chinese hamster ovary) cells overexpressing human GPR55. These new compounds have been evaluated in competitive binding assays for cannabinoid receptors, but all of them showed to be selective for GPR55 (>4

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

• , porphyrins and corroles, which are structurally related to porphyrins. Calix[4]pyrroles are versatile receptors in supramolecular chemistry while porphyrins are considered as ‘pigment of life’ due to their role in vital biological processes. Beyond their natural functions, synthetic porphyrins have been

Tailored charge-neutral self-assembled L₂Zn₂ container for taming oxalate

• David Ocklenburg and
• David Van Craen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3007–3015, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.250

• development of effective receptors for their detection. In particular, the smallest dicarboxylate, oxalate, presents a significant importance due to its widespread presence in nature and its association with various diseases. Yet, very little attention was devoted to the recognition of oxalate with metal

• -driven self-assemblies like cages or containers while numerous classic organic receptors for oxalate exist. This discrepancy is astonishing because metallocontainers or metallocages have advantages over classic macrocycles or organocages like a higher modularity and good preorganization paired with a

• ; metallocontainer; oxalate; Introduction Dicarboxylic acids and their corresponding anions are essential intermediates in the biosynthesis of proteins and important biological metabolites [1][2]. As a result, the development of receptors for this class of compounds is of high interest [3][4][5]. Oxalate, the

N-Glycosides of indigo, indirubin, and isoindigo: blue, red, and yellow sugars and their cancerostatic activity

• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2840–2869, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.240

• represent promising candidates for drug discovery, because of their improved water solubility, membrane permeability, and improved recognition by the respective receptors [16]. The present article aims to provide an updated review of the chemistry and biological applications of N-glycosides of indigo

• TRAIL and CD95 agonists [47]. A detailed investigation of apoptotic signaling pathways revealed that TRAIL resulted, based on a negative feed-back loop, in a rapid downregulation of both agonistic TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5. However, the presence of compound E-β-46b resulted in a compensation of this

• negative feed-back loop by TRAIL and an upregulation of both receptors. In addition, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c was observed which gave rise to an activation of intrinsic apoptosis pathways. The mitochondrial response seems to be related to an upregulation of Bax

C–C Coupling in sterically demanding porphyrin environments

• Liam Cribbin,
• Brendan Twamley,
• Nicolae Buga,
• John E. O’ Brien,
• Raphael Bühler,
• Roland A. Fischer and
• Mathias O. Senge

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2784–2798, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.234

• literature. In light of the promise of appropriately designed nonplanar porphyrins as receptors and catalysts we report here on our efforts to use the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction for the modification of the o,m,p-phenyl positions in 5,10,15,20-tetraryl-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrins. Results and

O,S,Se-containing Biginelli products based on cyclic β-ketosulfone and their postfunctionalization

• Kateryna V. Dil and
• Vitalii A. Palchykov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2143–2151, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.184

• chemistry highlights derivatives capable of interacting with multiple receptors or enzymes, making them ideal candidates for drug discovery. Dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) and their derivatives are particularly noteworthy within this category. Accordingly, their synthesis is of significant interest for

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

• -known family of GBPs is constituted by the lectins, ubiquitous receptors that exhibit the ability to specifically recognise different carbohydrates through their well-defined binding pocket and they conserved three-dimensional structure similarities [32]. On the other hand, GAG-binding proteins, which

2-Heteroarylethylamines in medicinal chemistry: a review of 2-phenethylamine satellite chemical space

• Carlos Nieto,
• Alejandro Manchado,
• Ángel García-González,
• David Díez and
• Narciso M. Garrido

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1880–1893, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.163

• bioactive compounds towards different disease-related receptors, as it was described in our previous work [5]. By means of benzene ring aromatic rescaffolding, it is possible to access the 2‑heteroarylethylamine neighboring space. This satellite chemical region is rich not only in structures displaying

• affinity to key phenethylamine targets like adrenergic or histamine-type receptors, but also to novel ones such as TAAR1 (trace-amine-associated receptor 1), σ1/2 (sigma receptors 1 and 2), or AChE (acetylcholinesterase). Similar to our previous review, a descriptive, simple scope is presented below to

• requirements for access to γ-aminobutyric receptor type B (GABAB) [18]. Amino acids 10–12 were demonstrated [19][20][21] to act as substrates of GABAB (Scheme 3), key metabotropic receptors from the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily responsible for CNS inhibitory synapses [22]. The authors concluded that

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

• on androgen-sensitive Shionogi cells, with weak binding to the androgen receptor detected. This suggests that the antiproliferative property may be attributed to antiandrogenic and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, the spiro derivatives did not show affinity to other steroid receptors, indicating a

Photoswitchable glycoligands targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa LecA

• Yu Fan,
• Ahmed El Rhaz,
• Stéphane Maisonneuve,
• Emilie Gillon,
• Maha Fatthalla,
• Franck Le Bideau,
• Guillaume Laurent,
• Samir Messaoudi,
• Anne Imberty and
• Juan Xie

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1486–1496, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.132

• reversible light modulation of their activity since each isomer shows distinct structural and electronic properties [13]. Photoisomerization-induced conformational and polarity changes may allow to increase or decrease the interaction with the target protein or receptors, then modulate the drug potency on

Challenge N- versus O-six-membered annulation: FeCl₃-catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic N,O-aminals

• Giacomo Mari,
• Lucia De Crescentini,
• Gianfranco Favi,
• Fabio Mantellini,
• Diego Olivieri and
• Stefania Santeusanio

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1412–1420, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.123

• related to Ewing sarcoma [8], IGF-1 receptor inhibitors [9] or act as ligands on corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) [10], γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) [11] and melanocortin receptors [12]. Given the established potencies of this class of N-ring-fused compounds, planned syntheses that simplify their

Entry to new spiroheterocycles via tandem Rh(II)-catalyzed O–H insertion/base-promoted cyclization involving diazoarylidene succinimides

• Alexander Yanovich,
• Anastasia Vepreva,
• Ksenia Malkova,
• Grigory Kantin and
• Dmitry Dar’in

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 561–569, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.48

• ], drospirenone (exhibits high affinity to progesterone receptors and is used as a birth control medication) [26][27], griseofulvin (an antifungal agent used to treat fungal infections of the fingernails and toes) [28], as well as oliceridine (a selective G protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonist used for

Switchable molecular tweezers: design and applications

• Pablo Msellem,
• Maksym Dekthiarenko,
• Nihal Hadj Seyd and
• Guillaume Vives

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 504–539, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.45

Tying a knot between crown ethers and porphyrins

• Maksym Matviyishyn and
• Bartosz Szyszko

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1630–1650, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.120

• porphyrins as multitopic receptors, sensors, and supramolecular hosts, with applications in ion transport, catalysis, and polymeric materials [22][40][41][42][43][44][45]. In 1984 Lehn, Sessler and co-workers developed double-side-strapped crowned porphyrins, which served as tritopic and tetratopic receptors

• multitopic receptors capable of binding ions and ion-pairs, which have been used in ion binding and catalysis, to name a few applications [47][48][49]. A primary example of a crown ether-annulated porphyrin, i.e., β-crowned porphyrin, was established in 1996 by Murashima and co-workers [50]. The macrocycle

• will only refer to selected examples demonstrating versatile applications of this class of macrocyclic receptors. The interest in crowned porphyrins stems from their ability to selectively bind cations [72], acting as polytopic receptors and remarkable ligands. They were exploited in constructing

Non-noble metal-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenation coupling (CDC) involving ether α-C(sp³)–H to construct C–C bonds

• Hui Yu and
• Feng Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1259–1288, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.94

• . Route b: the α-C(sp3)–H bonds are activated by a combination of transition metals and radical initiators to give the alkyl radicals, which are coupled with other radical receptors to afford the target product. Cu-catalyzed reactions Copper (common oxidation states are +I, +II and +III) has a

Cyanothioacetamides as a synthetic platform for the synthesis of aminopyrazole derivatives

• Valeriy O. Filimonov,
• Alexandra I. Topchiy,
• Vladimir G. Ilkin,
• Tetyana V. Beryozkina and
• Vasiliy A. Bakulev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1191–1197, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.87

• molecules that attack and destroy lipids and protein membranes of weed cells [10]. Fipronil is an inhibitor of GABA receptors and affects the nervous system of insects as a broad-spectrum insecticide [11][12]. On the other hand, thioamides are an important class of organic compounds. 6-Thioguanine and

Exploring the role of halogen bonding in iodonium ylides: insights into unexpected reactivity and reaction control

• Carlee A. Montgomery and
• Graham K. Murphy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1171–1190, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.86

• numerous similar attributes, halogen bonding has also proven to be a viable alternative in methodologies that rely on hydrogen bond initiation. For example, both halogen- and hydrogen bonding can be used in supramolecular chemistry as the binding mechanism in photoresponsive receptors [73][74][75][76][77