Continuous-flow-enabled intensification in nitration processes: a review of technological developments and practical applications over the past decade

• Feng Zhou,
• Chuansong Duanmu,
• Yanxing Li,
• Jin Li,
• Haiqing Xu,
• Pan Wang and
• Kai Zhu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1678–1699, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.132

• -products, and reaction mixtures involved in the continuous-flow nitration process were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the onset temperature of exothermic reactions. This onset temperature was then reduced by a specified value (recommended: 30–100 K) to establish the safe

• upper operating temperature limit for the continuous-flow process. For example, Priestley et al. [73] proposed that subtracting 60 K from the onset temperature of the exothermic reaction provides a recommended safe upper temperature limit for laboratory-scale ball milling synthesis operations based on

• DSC results. Compared to batch-based nitration processes, conducting nitration reactions in continuous-flow systems offers a significantly broader thermal operating window. Studying the exothermic behavior through techniques such as DSC and RC1 helps guide the inherently safe design of continuous-flow

Influence of the cation in hypophosphite-mediated catalyst-free reductive amination

• Natalia Lebedeva,
• Fedor Kliuev,
• Olesya Zvereva,
• Klim Biriukov,
• Evgeniya Podyacheva,
• Maria Godovikova,
• Oleg I. Afanasyev and
• Denis Chusov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1661–1670, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.130

• , usage of classical reducing agents – H2 on Pd/C or NaBH4 did not show similar chemoselectivity [26]. Additionally, the NaH2PO2 usability is engaging due to fine green chemistry metrics, e.g., an E-factor less than 1 was reached, moreover the main wastes of this process were safe and useful as

High-pressure activation for the solvent- and catalyst-free syntheses of heterocycles, pharmaceuticals and esters

• Kelsey Plasse,
• Valerie Wright,
• Guoshu Xie,
• R. Bernadett Vlocskó,
• Alexander Lazarev and
• Béla Török

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1374–1387, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.102

• many reactions to proceed at ambient temperature, resulting in convenient, safe, and energy-efficient protocols; and finally, (iv) HHP instruments allow broadly tuneable procedures that include modifying pressure, temperature, reaction time, or pressure cycles to ensure easy process optimization. Based

Gold extraction at the molecular level using α- and β-cyclodextrins

• Susana Santos Braga

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1116–1125, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.89

• high selectivity. The present review is centered on the use of cyclodextrins, natural and biocompatible oligosaccharides that form upon microbial fermentation of starch. The method is environmentally safe because it resorts to natural compounds, posing as a promising alternative to the use of cyanides

Supramolecular assembly of hypervalent iodine macrocycles and alkali metals

• Krishna Pandey,
• Lucas X. Orton,
• Grayson Venus,
• Waseem A. Hussain,
• Toby Woods,
• Lichang Wang and
• Kyle N. Plunkett

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1095–1103, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.87

• demonstrates several atoms (e.g., Cl, I, S, P etc.) that exhibit hypervalent properties. Among these atoms, iodine has gained significant attention, particularly in the form of hypervalent iodine reagents. In organic chemistry, these reagents are valued for their distinct reactivities, safe handling, high

Electrochemical synthesis of cyclic biaryl λ³-bromanes from 2,2’-dibromobiphenyls

• Andrejs Savkins and
• Igors Sokolovs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 451–457, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.32

• developed method represents a safe and inexpensive alternative to the commonly used thermal decomposition of potentially explosive diazonium salts. The successful electrochemical oxidation requires the presence of two chelating ester groups that stabilize the formed Br(III) species. Further work towards

Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and carbonic anhydrase inhibition activities of multifunctional pyrazolo-1,2-benzothiazine acetamides

• Ayesha Saeed,
• Shahana Ehsan,
• Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman,
• Erin M. Marshall,
• Sandra Loesgen,
• Abdus Saleem,
• Simone Giovannuzzi and
• Claudiu T. Supuran

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 348–357, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.25

• resistance [2]. Innovative scaffolds for novel antibiotic drug candidates are required to create new methods for safe and effective treatments. Chemically designed drug leads can complement naturally found antibiotics and may engage multiple modes of action and might have a longer lifetime before resistance

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

• agrochemicals has been shown to greatly increase the potency of a compound [45][46] and can be considered a bioisostere for a methyl group. Chlorination through HVI approaches provides a safe and mild approach to chlorinated cyclic compounds. Nitrogen nucleophiles Intramolecular chlorocyclisation promoted by

Interaction of a pyrene derivative with cationic [60]fullerene in phospholipid membranes and its effects on photodynamic actions

• Hayato Takagi,
• Çetin Çelik,
• Ryosuke Fukuda,
• Qi Guo,
• Tomohiro Higashino,
• Hiroshi Imahori,
• Yoko Yamakoshi and
• Tatsuya Murakami

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2732–2738, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.231

• membrane potential (Vm) in living cells. These previous studies indicated that the localization of the triad molecules in a specific intra-membrane orientation and the suppression of the photodynamic actions of the [60]fullerene (C60) moiety are likely important to achieve fast and safe control of Vm

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

Visible-light-mediated flow protocol for Achmatowicz rearrangement

• Joachyutharayalu Oja,
• Sanjeev Kumar and
• Srihari Pabbaraja

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2493–2499, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.213

• challenges. To address these points, a novel continuous photo-flow platform for the Achmatowicz reaction including integrated post-synthetic work-up in a safe and faster manner with less intervention of human was developed (Scheme 1 (2)). This process involves a nature abundant energy source such as sun

• is accomplished. The combined steps include fast reaction (10 min), and post-synthetic work-up (extraction time 0.25 min and separation time 0.11 min) in safe environment with minimal human intervention and avoiding hazardous chemical exposure. The process utilizes nature abundant energy sources such

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis

• Akiya Ogawa and
• Yuki Yamamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2114–2128, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.182

• -Addition of molecular bromine to phenyl isocyanide was reported by E. Kühle et al. to afford the corresponding 1,1-adduct (PhN=CBr2) [23]. Since dichloro compounds (RN=CCl2) [24] are the imino derivatives of highly toxic phosgene (O=CCl2), reactions using them as key intermediates are not safe synthetic

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

• the ecological and economic requirements. This “ideal” synthesis would commence with simple starting materials, progress through safe, catalytic, and quantitative conversions, and culminate in streamlined processes, all conducted within a single reaction vessel. Multicomponent reactions (MCR) closely

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

• readily available hydrazones under mild, safe and oxidant-free reaction conditions. This review presents a comprehensive overview of oxidative electrosynthetic transformations of hydrazones. It includes the construction of azacycles, the C(sp2)−H functionalization of aldehyde-derived hydrazones and the

• -metal-based transformations. However, their use is significantly hampered by their inherent instability and hazardous nature. Therefore, it is endlessly highly demanding to find a new mode of generation of diazo compounds from stable and safe precursors. The third part of this review is dedicated to

• reactivity profile of hydrazones, the electrooxidative transformations of such a molecular building block provides a fascinating route to valuable compounds under mild and safe reaction conditions. Alone, the electrooxidation of NH-aryl, -tosyl, and -acylhydrazones triggered the cyclization of a radical

1,2-Difluoroethylene (HFO-1132): synthesis and chemistry

• Liubov V. Sokolenko,
• Taras M. Sokolenko and
• Yurii L. Yagupolskii

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1955–1966, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.171

• ; refrigerants; Introduction In the 1930s, halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were synthesized and have been shown to have low toxicity, which has opened the door for the application as safe refrigerants [1][2]. The development of the commercial synthesis of CFCs and

Novel oxidative routes to N-arylpyridoindazolium salts

• Oleg A. Levitskiy,
• Yuri K. Grishin and
• Tatiana V. Magdesieva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1906–1913, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.166

• amine oxidation is increased. Electrochemical synthesis of pyridoindazolium salts The results of the voltammetry testing allowed to assume that pyridoindazolium salts can also be obtained using an anodic synthesis. Electric current as a reagent is inherently safe and easily scalable; electrosynthesis is

Synthesis of polycyclic aromatic quinones by continuous flow electrochemical oxidation: anodic methoxylation of polycyclic aromatic phenols (PAPs)

• Hiwot M. Tiruye,
• Solon Economopoulos and
• Kåre B. Jørgensen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1746–1757, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.153

• making them less desirable for industrial scale [19]. Electrochemical synthesis methods have a huge potential and this field is currently undergoing a renaissance [20][21][22][23][24]. Replacing chemical oxidants with electric current reduces waste production and gives a sustainable and inherently safe

Selectfluor and alcohol-mediated synthesis of bicyclic oxyfluorination compounds by Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement

• Ziya Dağalan,
• Muhammed Hanifi Çelikoğlu,
• Saffet Çelik,
• Ramazan Koçak and
• Bilal Nişancı

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1462–1467, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.129

• study, benzonorbornadiene (1a) and the chiral natural product (+)-camphene (1b) were used as bicyclic alkenes. Safe, easily soluble, easy to use, stable solid, reactive and commercial available selectfluor [18][27][28] was selected for electrophilic fluorination source. Water and various alcohols were

• . An environmentally friendly approach was pursued by using safe, easily soluble, easy to use, stable, solid and reactive selectfluor as an electrophilic fluorination reagent, and water and various alcohols as a nucleophile source. Besides being novel, the presented oxyfluorination protocol provides

• distinct advantageous such as (i) the methodology does not require the presence of any metal moities, (ii) enables the synthesis of corresponding oxyfluorinated analogues with high yields and selectivity, (iii) allows derivatization of natural chiral molecules, (iv) uses a safe solvent in mild reaction

The Ugi4CR as effective tool to access promising anticancer isatin-based α-acetamide carboxamide oxindole hybrids

• Carolina S. Marques,
• Aday González-Bakker and
• José M. Padrón

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1213–1220, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.104

• urgent need to find novel, effective and safe drugs for cancer therapy. Recently, focusing on the design of more potent anticancer drug candidates using more sustainable synthetic processes, we report a new Ugi four-component reaction approach for easy access to Ugi-derived isatin-peptoids in moderate to

Carbonylative synthesis and functionalization of indoles

• Alex De Salvo,
• Raffaella Mancuso and
• Xiao-Feng Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 973–1000, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.87

• yields in CH3CN under 10–20 bar of CO at 140 °C within 15–30 min and with carbon dioxide as the side-product (Scheme 18). Carbon monoxide is a cheap gas but its use requires safe and controlled environments and systems because it is highly toxic to human. In addition, reactions in which carbon monoxide

• hexaketocyclohexane octahydrate as the CO source again. This cyclic hexaketone is a non-toxic stable solid and therefore, it is simple and safe to use unlike of carbon monoxide. It was used as reagent to obtain indol-α-ketoesters by the Cu-catalyzed direct double-carbonylation of indoles and alcohols [76]. The

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

• . Trimethylsilyl azide is considered as a safe replacement of metal azides. We started the solvent optimization with MeOH and H2O as solvent system at room temperature, however, it did not yield any product even after 3 days (Table 1, entry 1). The use of DMF to improve the solubility of the paraformaldehyde solid

Possible bi-stable structures of pyrenebutanoic acid-linked protein molecules adsorbed on graphene: theoretical study

• Yasuhiro Oishi,
• Motoharu Kitatani and
• Koichi Kusakabe

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 570–577, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.49

• , for example, the adiabatic potential energy surface, defined as the Born–Oppenheimer surface, is invariant for substitution between isotopes of carbon. This is an example of the weak perturbation. In substitutions where the mass effect can be regarded as the predominant effect, it is safe to assume

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

N-Sulfenylsuccinimide/phthalimide: an alternative sulfenylating reagent in organic transformations

• Fatemeh Doraghi,
• Seyedeh Pegah Aledavoud,
• Mehdi Ghanbarlou,
• Bagher Larijani and
• Mohammad Mahdavi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1471–1502, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.106

• field of organic synthesis. These compounds are readily accessible, safe, and more stable than toxic, unstable, and foul-smelling thiols. These electrophilic sulfur sources have deserved particular interest for the C–S bond formation via the reaction with various nucleophiles. Their preparation is

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

• method allows the efficient alkylation of aromatic rings, can directly afford pharmaceutically significant heterocycles, and the raw materials and iron catalysts are safe and readily available. In 2017, Xu, Loh, and co-workers, demonstrated an iron-catalyzed hydroalkylation reaction of α,β-unsaturated

• application of this method still limited by sustainability, safety, and cost factors. Therefore, further development to shorten the reaction time, improve the reaction efficiency, and reduce energy consumption in an environmentally friendly, practical, and safe method for CDC will be a continuous process [131