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

• devices or therapeutics [1], drug delivery [2], supramolecular sensing [3], purification [4], and separation [5][6]. The interactions in supramolecular assemblies are driven by well-known hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions and π–π stacking [7][8]. The supramolecular

Biobased carbon dots as photoreductants – an investigation by using triarylsulfonium salts

• Valentina Benazzi,
• Arianna Bini,
• Ilaria Bertuol,
• Mariangela Novello,
• Federica Baldi,
• Matteo Hoch,
• Alvise Perosa and
• Stefano Protti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1024–1030, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.84

• , among the others, optoelectronics [5], sensing [6] and biomedicine (including bioimaging [7] and drug delivery [8]). Unlike traditional semiconductors, CDs are composed primarily of carbon, which makes them environmentally friendly easy-to-synthesize and appealing nanomaterials for photocatalysis [9

On the photoluminescence in triarylmethyl-centered mono-, di-, and multiradicals

• Daniel Straub,
• Markus Gross,
• Mona E. Arnold,
• Julia Zolg and
• Alexander J. C. Kuehne

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 964–998, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.80

• emission performance [15]. Other prospective applications utilize the manipulation of the spin-state of the unpaired electron and the potential for optical readout of the spin state for quantum technological information processing, communication, or chemical and biological sensing [16][17][18]. However

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

• and water [1][2][3][4]. Building on this fundamental knowledge, supramolecular chemists created a variety of functional systems including supramolecular polymers, sensing ensembles, molecular machines, supramolecular separation phases, and drug delivery systems [5][6][7][8][9]. A primary subfield of

• ][30]. For this reason, macrocyclic CB[n] have been used as key elements of separations processes [31][32], sensing systems [33][34], in pharmaceutical applications [35][36][37][38], in bioimaging systems [39][40], and even in household deodorizing products [41]. An important subclass of CB[n] hosts

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

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

• in water [21]. Crown ether 1 is particularly suited for the sensing of Trp methyl ester, which it binds with a higher affinity than the Phe and Tyr esters. Additionally, the binding of Trp-OMe results in a highly efficient fluorescence quenching of the naphthalene unit in the receptor. Herein, we

• report that receptor 1 can be used for the binding and fluorescent sensing of tryptophan as well as tryptophan residues in short peptides in water. Results and Discussion Having previously demonstrated that 1 binds tryptophan methyl ester in water [21] we wanted to investigate whether it is also suitable

• presence of the naphthyl moiety in the receptor the binding process can be monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy. These results pave the way for further investigations on the binding and fluorescent sensing of tryptophan within biologically relevant peptides by our glucose-based receptor. Furthermore

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

• enabled by improving automated experimental screening of existing cavities for new activity (sensing, catalysis) [418]. Crucially, improved access to experimental structure–activity relationships of incrementally developed cavities [21] is required to feed rational or machine learning advances. The unique

Hydrogen-bonded macrocycle-mediated dimerization for orthogonal supramolecular polymerization

• Wentao Yu,
• Zhiyao Yang,
• Chengkan Yu,
• Xiaowei Li and
• Lihua Yuan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 179–188, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.10

• noncovalent bonding interactions. It also confers on supramolecular assemblies with higher complexity and multilevel ordering [9][10][11], leading to a vast number of applications, for example, for use in detection and separation [12], sensing [13], photocatalysis [14], release [15], and as thermochromic and

• applications, which includes catalysis [26], gelation [27], sensing [28], color tuning, etc. [29]. However, only several kinds of macrocycles are capable of supramolecular dimerization through host–guest interactions [30]. Shape-persistent macrocycles have captured the interest of chemists for decades [31][32

Emerging trends in the optimization of organic synthesis through high-throughput tools and machine learning

• Pablo Quijano Velasco,
• Kedar Hippalgaonkar and
• Balamurugan Ramalingam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 10–38, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.3

• , stirring, heating, and cooling modules for enhanced versatility. In addition, the platform is capable of performing under inert and low-pressure atmospheres, handling separation steps, and pressure sensing for reaction monitoring. Its efficacy and robustness were confirmed through the successful synthesis

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

• applied in various fields, including organometallic catalysis, dye-sensitized solar cells, sensing, artificial olfactory systems, photodynamic therapy (PDT), anticancer drugs, biochemical probes, and electrochemical devices. Relevant examples of these two pyrrolic macrocycles as metal-free organocatalysts

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

• ], positron emission tomography (PET) imaging [24], fluorescent probes and labels [25][26][27] detecting H2S in foodstuff, water, and living cells [28], Fe3+ ions [29], Hg2+ ions [30], and cyanide anions [31], for acid–base vapor sensing [32], and as candidate material for photonics devices, optical switches

Synthesis of fluorinated acid-functionalized, electron-rich nickel porphyrins

• Mike Brockmann,
• Jonas Lobbel,
• Lara Unterriker and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2954–2958, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.248

• . After metalation with Ni(acac)2 and hydrolysis electron-rich porphyrins were obtained, that are equipped with covalently attached long chain acid substituents. The target compounds have potential applications in catalysis, sensing, and materials science. The fluorinated aliphatic carboxylic acids (TfO

Investigation of a bimetallic terbium(III)/copper(II) chemosensor for the detection of aqueous hydrogen sulfide

• Parvathy Mini,
• Michael R. Grace,
• Genevieve H. Dennison and
• Kellie L. Tuck

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2818–2826, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.237

• quenching had occurred when three equivalents of Cu2+ ions were added, a [Tb(triazole-DPA)3·3Cu]3+ [Tb.1·3Cu]3+ complex was used for the subsequent HS− sensing experiments. We did extend our study to investigate the luminescent quenching of 5 μM Tb.1 upon the addition of Cu2+ ions when 10 mM HEPES buffer

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

• porphyrin architectures, which could be used in supramolecular assemblies, catalysis, or sensing. In this work a library of arm-extended dodecasubstituted porphyrins was synthesized through the optimization of the classic Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of peripheral haloaryl substituents with a range of boronic

• nanotubes/nanochannels by intermolecular π–π interactions of the peripheral phenyl groups [59]. Additionally nonplanar supramolecular assemblies have found use in anion capture [12][15], and sensing [60], making the synthesis of these structures desirable from a supramolecular standpoint. Two especially

• assemblies possibly capable of carrying out sensing and or capturing molecules of interest, as well as a dimeric intercalated structure. (A) Structures of tetrasubstituted 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP, 1), dodecasubstituted 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (OETPP, 2), and

Applications of microscopy and small angle scattering techniques for the characterisation of supramolecular gels

• Connor R. M. MacDonald and
• Emily R. Draper

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2608–2634, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.220

• , sensing, optoelectronics, photo-responsive actuators, and healable materials, and a range of biomedical applications among many others [6][7][8][9]. To better understand and guide the development of these chemical systems, robust characterisation techniques and protocols are required. These materials

Metal-free double azide addition to strained alkynes of an octadehydrodibenzo[12]annulene derivative with electron-withdrawing substituents

• Naoki Takeda,
• Shuichi Akasaka,
• Susumu Kawauchi and
• Tsuyoshi Michinobu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2234–2241, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.191

• ] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE) between electron-rich alkynes and electron-deficient olefins [8]. The [2 + 2] CA-RE click reactions were employed to produce a variety of functional materials, such as nonlinear optical chromophores [9][10], super acceptors [11][12], ion sensing D–A systems [13

Novel truxene-based dipyrromethanes (DPMs): synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and photophysical properties

• Shakeel Alvi and
• Rashid Ali

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2163–2170, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.186

• ), organogels, molecular wires, self-assembly and so forth [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Moreover, nowadays these invaluable compounds have also received great attention of supramolecular chemists, and finds applications in sensing, catalysis, donor–acceptor systems, energy transfer and

• the importance of DPMs in mind due to their utmost significance as a building block in the construction of porphyrinogens, related polypyrrolic macrocycles, and pigments [39][40][41]. As shown in Figure 1, these DPMs and many more have fruitfully been used by several research groups in sensing/binding

• outstanding optical properties [43]. Herein, we present for the first time three new mono-, di-, tri-dipyrromethane appended truxene derivatives with the intention to explore them for future sensing and/or binding properties. Results and Discussion To achieve our goal towards the construction of truxene

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

• increasingly limited for treatment of infections. PA has been classified as a priority 1 pathogen by the WHO [2][3]. Various approaches to treating PA, in addition to traditional antibiotics, have been developed including inhibition of quorum sensing, biofilm formation, iron chelation, and interfering with

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

• several significant processes, terpenoids play an indispensable role in cell-wall and membrane biosynthesis, sensing, plant defense, electron transport, or conversion of light into chemical energy [1][2]. Based on the number of hydrocarbon units, terpenes are classified into various families like

A Diels–Alder probe for discovery of natural products containing furan moieties

• Alyssa S. Eggly,
• Namuunzul Otgontseren,
• Carson B. Roberts,
• Amir Y. Alwali,
• Haylie E. Hennigan and
• Elizabeth I. Parkinson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1001–1010, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.88

• the titers of MMFs in native producing strains. However, if titers are similar to that of γ-butyrolactones and butenolides quorum sensing molecules, we would expect them to be between 80 and 2.5 nM [29][30][31]. Given these very low concentrations, cultures would need to be greatly concentrated (≈1000

Activity assays of NnlA homologs suggest the natural product N-nitroglycine is degraded by diverse bacteria

• Kara A. Strickland,
• Brenda Martinez Rodriguez,
• Ashley A. Holland,
• Shelby Wagner,
• Michelle Luna-Alva,
• David E. Graham and
• Jonathan D. Caranto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 830–840, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.75

• ), limiting the use of this model to predict the heme environment. Nevertheless, this protein–ligand model heme binding between the β-sheet and an α-helix based on similarity to the oxygen-sensing dimeric DosH protein [34]. DosH is also a heme-binding PAS-domain containing protein, further validating the

Methodology for awakening the potential secondary metabolic capacity in actinomycetes

• Shun Saito and
• Midori A. Arai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 753–766, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.69

• ), which upon sensing ROS, release their repression and activate the expression of various genes [93][94][95]. Wei et al. reported that the production of validamycin A (25) by Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008 could be activated at the transcriptional level by simply adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; which

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

• can be expected for proteins immobilized on graphene. As a result, we propose a strategy for improving the accuracy of the sensing process in elastic wave measurement sensors through antigen/antibody reactions. Results and Discussion PASE and PASE-derivatives on graphene Among pyrene derivatives, PASE

• conformation 2 in the protein capture step. On the other hand, at the time of sensing, the proteins and sample antigens bound by the linker should be strongly bound on the graphene surface. This makes it easier to observe the increased mass by generating a reflected wave with a strong amplitude relative to the

• other hand, in non-covalent functionalization, the electronic properties of graphene can be preserved [27][28][29]. Therefore, the PASE linker and its properties may be relevant for another type of the electronic sensing strategy, such as field effect transistor-based biosensors. Conclusion We discussed

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

• represents prototypes of molecular machines in which guest binding is regulated by stimuli-induced conformational changes between open and closed states (Figure 1). This feature holds significant promise for applications in sensing, drug delivery, or membrane transport within biological systems. Moreover

Synthesis of π-conjugated polycyclic compounds by late-stage extrusion of chalcogen fragments

• Aissam Okba,
• Pablo Simón Marqués,
• Kyohei Matsuo,
• Naoki Aratani,
• Hiroko Yamada,
• Gwénaël Rapenne and
• Claire Kammerer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 287–305, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.30

• dithienonaphthalene products (e.g., 16) exhibit very different fluorescence properties, S-extrusion from thiophene-annelated thiepines was consequently exploited for peroxide sensing. Very recently, Zhou et al. reported the synthesis of S-doped phenanthrene and triphenylene derivatives via the thermally-induced ring

• dithienonaphthalenes, upon S-extrusion triggered by electrochemical oxidation. Bottom: Exploitation of the S-extrusion process for peroxide sensing, taking advantage of the lability of oxidized dithienobenzothiepine to generate highly fluorescent dithienonaphthalene [63]. Synthesis of S-doped extended triphenylene