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Search for "transition state" in Full Text gives 447 result(s) in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. Showing first 200.
Recent advances in total synthesis of illisimonin A
- Juan Huang and
- Ming Yang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2571–2583, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.199
- . However, subsequent density functional theory (DFT) calculations by the Tantillo group on rearrangements of potential biosynthetic precursors revealed that structure 10 corresponds to a transition state rather than a stable intermediate of the 1,2-alkyl migration [27]. Their study further indicated that
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: The categorization of Illicium sesquiterpenes and representative natural products.
Figure 2: The original assigned (−)-illisimonin A, revised (−)-illisimonin A, and their different draws.
Scheme 1: Proposed biosynthetic pathway of illisimonin A by Yu et al.
Scheme 2: Rychnovsky’s racemic synthesis of illisimonin A (1).
Scheme 3: The absolute configuration revision of (−)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 4: Kalesse’s asymmetric synthesis of (−)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 5: Yang group proposed biosynthetic pathway of illisimonin A.
Scheme 6: Yang’s bioinspired synthesis of illisimonin A.
Scheme 7: Dai’s asymmetric synthesis of (–)-illisimonin A.
Scheme 8: Lu’s total synthesis of illisimonin A.
Scheme 9: Initial efforts toward the total synthesis of illisimonin A by the Lu Group.
Scheme 10: Suzuki’s synthetic effort towards illisimonin A.
Rapid access to the core of malayamycin A by intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition
- Yilin Liu,
- Yuchen Yang,
- Chen Yang,
- Sha-Hua Huang,
- Jian Jin and
- Ran Hong
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2542–2547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.196
- undesired stereochemistry at C3 due to a possible chair-like transition state like 10a (Scheme 2B). This phenomenon is consistent with the observations from previous syntheses [31][35][36]. We anticipated that late-stage epimerization might invert the configuration once the acyl group is revealed at the C2
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Selected natural uracil-containing nucleosides (the key perhydrofuropyran core highlighted in blue)....
Scheme 1: Synthetic strategies toward malayamycin A. (A) Previous synthetic route. (B) Our strategy toward th...
Scheme 2: Rational for intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition.
Scheme 3: Proposed pathway for the enone formation.
Scheme 4: Modified route to access the core of malayamycins.
Scheme 5: Attempting the Baeyer–Villiger reaction.
Synthesis of the tetracyclic skeleton of Aspidosperma alkaloids via PET-initiated cationic radical-derived interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich reaction
- Ru-Dong Liu,
- Jian-Yu Long,
- Zhi-Lin Song,
- Zhen Yang and
- Zhong-Chao Zhang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2470–2478, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.189
- formation of IN1. The radical cation IN1 served as the reference point for DFT investigations. As illustrated in Figure 2a, facilitated by a favorable radical cation–π interaction [31], IN1 proceeds to the first radical addition transition state (TS1), with an energy barrier of 8.3 kcal/mol. This leads to
- undergo reductive SET in the presence of [FCNIr(II)Pic]−. This leads to the regeneration of [FCNIr(III)Pic] to complete the catalytic cycle and formation of the final product via proton transfer. Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) analysis showed the reaction coordinate connecting the transition state
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Synthetic plan. a) General model of cyclobutenone bond cleavage; b) our previously reported method;...
Scheme 1: Substrate scope.
Figure 2: Computational study. a) Energy profiles from IN1 to IN3 and spin density of TS2 (isovalue = 0.004),...
The high potential of methyl laurate as a recyclable competitor to conventional toxic solvents in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions
- Ayhan Yıldırım and
- Mustafa Göker
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2389–2415, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.184
- solvent polarity results in a decrease in rate constants. This phenomenon is attributed to the lower polarity of the transition state in comparison to that of the initial compounds [61]. Furthermore, these methods often require harsh reaction conditions, prolonged reaction times, and laborious
- ]. The 28:72 exo/endo (cis/trans) isomer ratio (Table 1, entry 9), obtained in this cycloaddition reaction indicates that the endo transition state is more stable, and that the thermodynamically more stable trans isomer is the major product in the reaction proceeding diastereoselectively through this
- transition state (Scheme 2). Meanwhile, the diastereomeric ratio of interest can be determined by integrating the 1H NMR spectra, in particular by selecting the appropriate signal pairs (one from each diastereomer) belonging to the respective cycloaddition product. An example of these selected protons (trans
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Versatile compounds via cycloaddition reactions.
Scheme 1: Molecular structures of parent compounds 1a–f, 2a–d and cycloadducts 3a–u.
Figure 2: a) Radar view of the physical properties of methyl laurate. b) Oral toxicity values of methyl laura...
Figure 3: The oral toxicity values of all the solvents utilized in the present study obtained with ProTox 3.0....
Figure 4: Ecological, environmental risk assessments, pesticide similarity and biodegradability assessments o...
Figure 5: Ecological, environmental risk assessments, pesticide similarity and biodegradability assessments o...
Figure 6: Ecological, environmental risk assessments, pesticide similarity and biodegradability assessments o...
Figure 7: Various toxicity parameters of methyl laurate and a series of other solvents calculated by ADMETLab...
Figure 8: a) Visualization of the localization of conventional organic and bio-based solvents in the Hansen s...
Figure 9: Vapour pressures of the solvents used (values retrieved from the Chemeo molecular database).
Scheme 2: Endo and exo stereoisomeric approaches of nitrone 1a and maleimide 2a in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reac...
Figure 10: Signals of protons used in the calculation of the diastereomeric ratios (cis/trans) of cycloadditio...
Figure 11: Results of studies on the recovery of solvents used in the reaction.
Figure 12: Simplified scheme describing the reaction monitoring and solvent recovery.
Figure 13: a) The superimposed spectra of C,N-diphenylnitrone and N-phenylmaleimide. b) The spectrum of methyl...
Pathway economy in cyclization of 1,n-enynes
- Hezhen Han,
- Wenjie Mao,
- Bin Lin,
- Maosheng Cheng,
- Lu Yang and
- Yongxiang Liu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2260–2282, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.173
- configuration exert pronounced effects on reaction pathways. These substrate-specific geometric parameters directly dictate transition state formation during ring closure. Recent advances demonstrated that deliberate manipulation of angle strain and configuration enabled divergent skeletal outcomes under
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Economical synthesis and pathway economy.
Scheme 2: Au(I)-catalyzed cascade cyclization paths of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 3: Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization paths of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 4: I2/TBHP-mediated radical cycloisomerization paths of 1,n-enyne.
Scheme 5: Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization paths of 3-allyloxy-1,6-diynes.
Scheme 6: Pd(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization paths of 2-alkynylbenzoate-cyclohexadienone.
Scheme 7: Stereoselective cyclization of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 8: Substituent-controlled cycloisomerization of propargyl vinyl ethers.
Scheme 9: Au(I)-catalyzed pathway-controlled domino cyclization of 1,2-diphenylethynes.
Scheme 10: Au(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclo-isomerization of tryptamine-N-ethynylpropiolamide.
Scheme 11: Au(I)-catalyzed tunable cyclization of 1,6-cyclohexenylalkyne.
Scheme 12: Substituent-controlled 7-exo- and 8-endo-dig-selective cyclization of 2-propargylaminobiphenyl deri...
Scheme 13: BiCl3-catalyzed cycloisomerization of tryptamine-ynamide derivatives.
Scheme 14: Au(I)-mediated substituent-controlled cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes.
Scheme 15: Ligand-controlled regioselective cyclization of 1,6-enynes.
Scheme 16: Ligand-dependent cycloisomerization of 1,7-enyne esters.
Scheme 17: Ligand-controlled cycloisomerization of 1,5-enynes.
Scheme 18: Ligand-controlled cyclization strategy of alkynylamide tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes.
Scheme 19: Ag(I)-mediated pathway-controlled cycloisomerization of tryptamine-ynamides.
Scheme 20: Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of indoles with alkynes.
Scheme 21: Catalyst-dependent cycloisomerization of dienol silyl ethers.
Scheme 22: Cycloisomerization of aromatic enynes governed by catalyst.
Scheme 23: Catalyst-dependent 1,2-migration in cyclization of 1-(indol-2-yl)-3-alkyn-1-ols.
Scheme 24: Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides.
Scheme 25: Gold(I)-mediated enantioselective cycloisomerizations of ortho-(alkynyl)styrenes.
Scheme 26: Catalyst-controlled intramolecular cyclization of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 27: Brønsted acid-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of tryptamine ynamides.
Scheme 28: Catalyst-controlled cyclization of indolyl homopropargyl amides.
Scheme 29: Angle strain-dominated 6-endo-trig cyclization of propargyl vinyl ethers.
Scheme 30: Angle strain-controlled cycloisomerization of alkyn-tethered indoles.
Scheme 31: Geometrical isomeration-dependent cycloisomerization of 1,3-dien-5-ynes.
Scheme 32: Temperature-controlled cyclization of 1,7-enynes.
Scheme 33: Cycloisomerizations of n-(o-ethynylaryl)acrylamides through temperature modulation.
Scheme 34: Temperature-controlled boracyclization of biphenyl-embedded 1,3,5-trien-7-ynes.
Asymmetric total synthesis of tricyclic prostaglandin D2 metabolite methyl ester via oxidative radical cyclization
- Miao Xiao,
- Liuyang Pu,
- Qiaoli Shang,
- Lei Zhu and
- Jun Huang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1964–1972, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.152
- a single diastereomer (Table 1, entry 4). To explain this diastereoselectivity, we hypothesize that the C–O bond, which occupies an axial position in the proposed transition state TS-1, could avert an additional hyperconjugative interaction (σ*C-O/π) that renders the reacting C=C bond electron
- connection of C8 and C12 in compound 21 could be realized through a photoredox-catalyzed radical cyclization of unactivated alkene-substituted β-ketoester 27. This reaction was expected to involve a 5-exo-trig radical cyclization via transition state TS-3 [38], in which the diastereoselectivity could be
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Representative prostaglandins and general synthetic strategy toward PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 2: Retrosynthetic analysis for the first generation synthesis of PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of bicyclic ketal 25.
Scheme 4: Retrosynthetic analysis for the second-generation synthesis of tricyclic PGDM methyl ester 4.
Scheme 5: Asymmetric total synthesis of tricyclic-PGDM methyl ester 4.
Enantioselective desymmetrization strategy of prochiral 1,3-diols in natural product synthesis
- Lihua Wei,
- Rui Yang,
- Zhifeng Shi and
- Zhiqiang Ma
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1932–1963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.151
- with the desired C6 chiral center was constructed via intermediate 229, where the sulfinyl group induced K+–oxygen chelation to form a six-membered transition state prior to protonation from the less hindered face. Acid-mediated epimerization at C9 of 230 yielded compound 231, which was transformed
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: General mechanism of a lipase-catalyzed esterification.
Scheme 2: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-xanthorrhizol (4) and (+)-heliannuol D (8).
Scheme 3: Shishido’s synthesis of a) (−)-heliannuol A (15) and b) heliannuol G (20) and heliannuol H (21).
Scheme 4: Deska’s synthesis of hyperione A (30) and ent-hyperione B (31).
Scheme 5: Huang’s synthesis of (+)-brazilin (37).
Scheme 6: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-heliannuol D (42) and (+)-heliannuol A (43).
Scheme 7: Chênevert’s synthesis of (S)-α-tocotrienol (49).
Scheme 8: Kita’s synthesis of monoester 53.
Scheme 9: Kita’s synthesis of fredericamycin A (60).
Scheme 10: Takabe’s synthesis of (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene-1,8-diol (64).
Scheme 11: Takabe’s synthesis of (18S)-variabilin (70).
Scheme 12: Kawasaki’s synthesis of (S)-Rosaphen (74) and (R)-Rosaphen (75).
Scheme 13: Tokuyama’s synthesis of a) (−)-petrosin (84) and b) (+)-petrosin (86).
Scheme 14: Fukuyama’s synthesis of leustroducsin B (96).
Scheme 15: Nanda’s synthesis of a) fragment 100, b) fragment 106 and c) (−)-rasfonin (109).
Scheme 16: Davies’ synthesis of (+)-pilocarpine (115) and (+)-isopilocarpine (116).
Scheme 17: Ōmura’s synthesis of salinosporamide A (125).
Scheme 18: Kang’s synthesis of ʟ-cladinose (124) and its derivative.
Scheme 19: Kang’s preparation of fragment 139.
Scheme 20: Kang’s synthesis of azithromycin (149).
Scheme 21: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-dysiherbaine (156).
Scheme 22: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-kaitocephalin (166).
Scheme 23: Kang’s synthesis of laidlomycin (180).
Scheme 24: Snyder’s synthesis of arboridinine (190).
Scheme 25: Ma’s synthesis of (+)-alstrostine G (203).
Scheme 26: Trost’s synthesis of (−)-18-epi-peloruside A (215).
Scheme 27: Lindel’s synthesis of (–)-dihydroraputindole (223).
Scheme 28: Iwata’s synthesis of a) (−)-talaromycin B (232) and b) (+)-talaromycin A (235).
Scheme 29: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-vincamajinine (240) and b) (−)-11-methoxy-17-epivincamajine (245).
Scheme 30: Cook’s synthesis of (+)-dehydrovoachalotine (249) and voachalotine (250).
Scheme 31: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-12-methoxy-Nb-methylvoachalotine (257) and b) (+)-polyneuridine, macusin...
Scheme 32: Trauner’s synthesis of stephadiamine (273).
Scheme 33: Garg’s synthesis of (–)-ψ-akuammigine (285).
Scheme 34: Ding’s synthesis of (+)-18-benzoyldavisinol (293) and (+)-davisinol (294).
Preparation of spirocyclic oxindoles by cyclisation of an oxime to a nitrone and dipolar cycloaddition
- Beth L. Ritchie,
- Alexandra Longcake and
- Iain Coldham
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1890–1896, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.146
- stereoisomer has the ring-junction NC–H bond, the imide carbonyls, and the oxindole carbonyl all cis to one another across the two newly formed rings. This must arise from a preference for an exo transition state that places the incoming maleimide away from the oxindole carbonyl. The cascade chemistry allows
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative oxindole alkaloids.
Scheme 1: Proposed synthetic approach.
Scheme 2: Preparation of the aldehyde 4.
Scheme 3: Cycloaddition with N-methylmaleimide.
Figure 2: Orientation for the cycloaddition (left) and the crystal structure of the major stereoisomer 5a (ri...
Scheme 4: Cycloaddition with N-phenylmaleimide.
Scheme 5: Cycloaddition with dimethyl fumarate and dimethyl maleate.
Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of helically chiral, planarly chiral and inherently chiral molecules
- Wei Liu and
- Xiaoyu Yang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1864–1889, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.145
- CPA-catalyzed cyclization of INT-E through the dual hydrogen bonding activation transition state TS-1 afforded the eight-membered heterocycle INT-F with a stereogenic center. Through the elimination of aniline 73, the saddle-shaped dibenzo[1,5]diazocine 72 was produced via a central-to-inherent
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: General structure of CPAs and selected CPAs with various chiral scaffolds.
Figure 2: Representative elements of molecular chirality.
Scheme 1: CPA-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of azahelicenes via Fischer indole synthesis.
Scheme 2: CPA-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of azahelicenes via sequential Povarov reaction and oxidative ar...
Scheme 3: CPA-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of azahelicenes via sequential Povarov reaction involving 3-viny...
Scheme 4: CPA-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of heterohelicenes via sequential Povarov reaction involving 2-v...
Scheme 5: Diverse enantioselective synthesis of hetero[7]helicenes via a CPA-catalyzed double annulation stra...
Scheme 6: CPA-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of indolohelicenoids through enantioselective cycloaddition and ...
Scheme 7: Kinetic resolution of helical polycyclic phenols via CPA-catalyzed enantioselective aminative dearo...
Scheme 8: Kinetic resolution of azahelicenes via CPA-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation.
Scheme 9: Asymmetric synthesis of planarly chiral macrocycles via CPA-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic aminat...
Scheme 10: Enantioselective synthesis of planarly chiral macrocycles via CPA-catalyzed macrocyclization.
Scheme 11: (Dynamic) kinetic resolution of planarly chiral paracyclophanes via CPA-catalyzed asymmetric reduct...
Scheme 12: Kinetic resolution of macrocyclic paracyclophanes through CPA/Bi-catalyzed asymmetric allylation.
Scheme 13: Enantioselective synthesis of planarly chiral macrocycles via CPA-catalyzed coupling of carboxylic ...
Scheme 14: Kinetic resolution of substituted amido[2.2]paracyclophanes via CPA-catalyzed asymmetric electrophi...
Scheme 15: Enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes via sequential CPA-catalyzed Povarov...
Scheme 16: Asymmetric synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes via CPA-catalyzed aminative desymmetrizati...
Scheme 17: Asymmetric synthesis of chiral heterocalix[4]arenes via CPA-catalyzed intramolecular SNAr reaction.
Scheme 18: Enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral DDDs via CPA-catalyzed cyclocondensation.
Scheme 19: Asymmetric synthesis of saddle-shaped inherently chiral 9,10-dihydrotribenzoazocines via CPA-cataly...
Scheme 20: Enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral saddle-shaped dibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocines via CPA-c...
Scheme 21: Enantioselective synthesis of inherent chiral 7-membered tribenzocycloheptene oximes via CPA-cataly...
Photoswitches beyond azobenzene: a beginner’s guide
- Michela Marcon,
- Christoph Haag and
- Burkhard König
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1808–1853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.143
- rest of the molecule. The transition state for the thermal back-isomerisation of 72 is planar in case of electron-donating groups and twisted for electron-withdrawing groups; the latter isomerise faster than the former (Scheme 23, top). The planar transition state is also favoured in polar and protic
- -position give hypsochromic shifts and shorten the thermal half-life by stabilising the transition state 73’ (Scheme 23, bottom) [63]. Synthesis The classic synthesis of indigo is achieved via Baeyer–Drewsen synthesis reacting 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (74) and acetone in basic medium (Scheme 24, top) [91]. Since
- transition state E-inversion (Scheme 32A). The addition of ring strain between the stator and the rotor (Scheme 34, right) was found to affect the thermal half-life depending on the ring size [109]. Too small (n = 3) 108a and too large rings (n > 5) 108d–f force the E-isomer in a less stable conformation and
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Energy diagram of a two-state photoswitch. Figure 1 was redrawn from [2].
Figure 2: Example of the absorption spectra of the isomers of a photoswitch with most efficient irradiation w...
Scheme 1: Photoswitch classes described in this review.
Figure 3: Azoheteroarenes.
Scheme 2: E–Z Isomerisation (top) and mechanisms of thermal Z–E isomerisation (bottom).
Scheme 3: Rotation mechanism favoured by the electron displacement in push–pull systems. Selected examples of...
Figure 4: A) T-shaped and twisted Z-isomers determine the thermal stability and the Z–E-PSS (selected example...
Figure 5: Effect of di-ortho-substitution on thermal half-life and PSS.
Figure 6: Selected thermal lifetimes of azoindoles in different solvents and concentrations. aConcentration o...
Figure 7: Aryliminopyrazoles: N-pyrazoles (top) and N-phenyl (bottom).
Scheme 4: Synthesis of symmetrical heteroarenes through oxidation (A), reduction (B), and the Bayer–Mills rea...
Scheme 5: Synthesis of diazonium salt (A); different strategies of azo-coupling: with a nucleophilic ring (B)...
Scheme 6: Synthesis of arylazothiazoles 25 (A) and heteroaryltriazoles 28 (B).
Scheme 7: Synthesis of heteroarylimines 31a,b [36-38].
Figure 8: Push–pull non-ionic azo dye developed by Velasco and co-workers [45].
Scheme 8: Azopyridine reported by Herges and co-workers [46].
Scheme 9: Photoinduced phase transitioning azobispyrazoles [47].
Figure 9: Diazocines.
Scheme 10: Isomers, conformers and enantiomers of diazocine.
Scheme 11: Partial overlap of the ππ* band with electron-donating substituents and effect on the PSS. Scheme 11 was ada...
Figure 10: Main properties of diazocines with different bridges. aMeasured in n-hexane [56]. bMeasured in THF. cMe...
Scheme 12: Synthesis of symmetric diazocines.
Scheme 13: Synthesis of asymmetric diazocines.
Scheme 14: Synthesis of O- and S-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 15: Synthesis of N-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 16: Puromycin diazocine photoswitch [60].
Figure 11: Indigoids.
Figure 12: The main representatives of the indigoid photoswitch class.
Scheme 17: Deactivation process that prevents Z-isomerisation of indigo.
Figure 13: Stable Z-indigo derivative synthesised by Wyman and Zenhäusern [67].
Figure 14: Selected examples of indigos with aliphatic and aromatic substituents [68]. Dashed box: proposed π–π in...
Scheme 18: Resonance structures of indigo and thioindigo involving the phenyl ring.
Scheme 19: Possible deactivation mechanism for 4,4'-dihydroxythioindigo [76].
Scheme 20: Effect of different heteroaryl rings on the stability and the photophysical properties of hemiindig...
Figure 15: Thermal half-lives of red-shifted hemithioindigos in toluene [79]. aMeasured in toluene-d8.
Scheme 21: Structures of pyrrole [81] and imidazole hemithioindigo [64].
Figure 16: Examples of fully substituted double bond hemithioindigo (left), oxidised hemithioindigos (centre),...
Scheme 22: Structure of iminothioindoxyl 72 (top) and acylated phenyliminoindolinone photoswitch 73 (bottom). ...
Scheme 23: (top) Transition states of iminothioindoxyl 72. The planar transition state is associated with a lo...
Scheme 24: Baeyer–Drewsen synthesis of indigo (top) and N-functionalisation strategies (bottom).
Scheme 25: Synthesis of hemiindigo.
Scheme 26: Synthesis of hemithioindigo and iminothioindoxyl.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of double-bond-substituted hemithioindigos.
Scheme 28: Synthesis of phenyliminoindolinone.
Scheme 29: Hemithioindigo molecular motor [85].
Figure 17: Arylhydrazones.
Scheme 30: Switching of arylhydrazones. Note: The definitions of stator and rotor are arbitrary.
Scheme 31: Photo- and acidochromism of pyridine-based phenylhydrazones.
Scheme 32: A) E–Z thermal inversion of a thermally stable push–pull hydrazone [109]. B) Rotation mechanism favoured...
Scheme 33: Effect of planarisation on the half-life.
Scheme 34: The longest thermally stable hydrazone switches reported so far (left). Modulation of thermal half-...
Figure 18: Dependency of t1/2 on concentration and hypothesised aggregation-induced isomerisation.
Figure 19: Structure–property relationship of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 35: Synthesis of arylhydrazones.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 37: Photoswitchable fluorophore by Aprahamian et al. [115].
Scheme 38: The four-state photoswitch synthesised by the Cigáň group [116].
Figure 20: Diarylethenes.
Scheme 39: Isomerisation and oxidation pathway of E-stilbene to phenanthrene.
Scheme 40: Strategies adapted to avoid E–Z isomerisation and oxidation.
Scheme 41: Molecular orbitals and mechanism of electrocyclisation for a 6π system.
Figure 21: Aromatic stabilisation energy correlated with the thermal stability of the diarylethenes [127,129].
Figure 22: Half-lives of diarylethenes with increasing electron-withdrawing groups [128,129].
Scheme 42: Photochemical degradation pathway promoted by electron-donating groups [130].
Figure 23: The diarylethenes studied by Hanazawa et al. [134]. Increased rigidity leads to bathochromic shift.
Scheme 43: The dithienylethene synthesised by Nakatani's group [135].
Scheme 44: Synthesis of perfluoroalkylated diarylethenes.
Scheme 45: Synthesis of 139 and 142 via McMurry coupling.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of symmetrical derivatives 145 via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of acyclic 148, malonic anhydride 149, and maleimide derivatives 154.
Figure 24: Gramicidin S (top left) and two of the modified diarylethene derivatives: first generation (bottom ...
Scheme 48: Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and its reaction with an amino acid (top). The analogous dithienylethene der...
Figure 25: Fulgides.
Scheme 49: The three isomers of fulgides.
Scheme 50: Thermal and photochemical side products of unsubstituted fulgide [150].
Figure 26: Maximum absorption λc of the closed isomer compared with the nature of the aromatic ring and the su...
Scheme 51: Possible rearrangement of the excited state of 5-dimethylaminoindolylfulgide [153].
Figure 27: Quantum yields of ring closure (ΦE→C) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) correlated with the increasing s...
Scheme 52: Active (Eα) and inactive (Eβ) conformers (left) and the bicyclic sterically blocked fulgide 169 (ri...
Scheme 53: Quantum yield of ring-opening (ΦC→E) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) for different substitution patter...
Scheme 54: Stobbe condensation pathway for the synthesis of fulgides 179, fulgimides 181 and fulgenates 178.
Scheme 55: Alternative synthesis of fulgides through Pd-catalysed carbonylation.
Scheme 56: Optimised synthesis of fulgimides [166].
Scheme 57: Photoswitchable FRET with a fulgimide photoswitch [167].
Scheme 58: Three-state fulgimide strategy by Slanina's group.
Figure 28: Spiropyrans.
Scheme 59: Photochemical (left) and thermal (right) ring-opening mechanisms for an exemplary spiropyran with a...
Figure 29: Eight possible isomers of the open merocyanine according to the E/Z configurations of the bonds hig...
Scheme 60: pH-Controlled photoisomerisation between the closed spiropyran 191-SP and the open E-merocyanine 19...
Scheme 61: Behaviour of spiropyran in water buffer according to Andréasson and co-workers [180]. 192-SP in an aqueo...
Scheme 62: (left box) Proposed mechanism of basic hydrolysis of MC [184]. (right box) Introduction of electron-dona...
Scheme 63: Photochemical interconversion of naphthopyran 194 (top) and spirooxazine 195 (bottom) photoswitches...
Scheme 64: Synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines 198 and the dicondensation by-product 199.
Scheme 65: Alternative synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines with indolenylium salt 200.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of 4’-substituted spiropyrans 203 by condensation of an acylated methylene indoline 201 w...
Scheme 67: Synthesis of spironaphthopyrans 210 by acid-catalysed condensation of naphthols and diarylpropargyl...
Scheme 68: Photoswitchable surface wettability [194].
Figure 30: Some guiding principles for the choice of the most suitable photoswitch. Note that this guide is ve...
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
- based on NO2+. The intrinsic kinetics model based on NO2+ can be established as shown in Table 3. According to the Brønsted–Bjerrum rate law (transition-state theory) [62], the overall rate equation based on NO2+ can be transferred into an activity coefficients-based rate equation. According to the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Three key dimensions of a complete nitration process.
Figure 2: A typical continuous-flow nitration reaction system.
Figure 3: Corrosion characteristics of common wetted materials used in continuous-flow nitration system. Note...
Figure 4: Analysis of the literature on continuous-flow nitration reaction over the past decade.
Scheme 1: Model reaction for the homogeneous nitration by nitric acid/mixed acid.
Figure 5: Safety assessment criteria for nitration reactions. Notes: apressure-independent; bno hazards arisi...
Figure 6: Guide for the investigation of continuous-flow nitration processes.
Transition-state aromaticity and its relationship with reactivity in pericyclic reactions
- Israel Fernández
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1613–1626, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.125
- Israel Fernandez Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040-Madrid, Spain 10.3762/bjoc.21.125 Abstract The influence of transition-state aromaticity on the barrier heights of concerted pericyclic reactions is summarized herein. To
- other than aromaticity govern the barrier heights of these pericyclic reactions. Keywords: activation barrier; activation strain model; aromaticity; computational chemistry; transition state; Introduction Aromaticity is arguably one of the most fundamental and extensively studied concepts in chemistry
- further support to the barrier-lowering effect induced by the aromaticity of the transition state. While the purported ‘‘aromatic stabilization’’ is mainly established based on comparisons to transition states of alternative stepwise reaction routes, its extension to highly related processes following
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: (a) Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction between butadiene and ethylene. (b) Gold(I)-catalyzed propar...
Figure 1: Transition states computed for the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction between isoprene and methyl a...
Figure 2: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the Diels–Alder...
Figure 3: (a) Evolution of the NICS(3, +1) values along a z-axis perpendicular to the molecular plane of the ...
Figure 4: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the carbonyl–en...
Figure 5: AICD (a) and EDDB (b) plots for the transition state involved in the DGRT between ethene and ethane....
Figure 6: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the DGRT betwee...
Scheme 2: Representative cycloisomerization reaction of 1,3-hexadien-5-yne.
Figure 7: AICD plots of the transition states associated with the Hopf cyclization reactions involving cis-he...
Figure 8: Comparative activation strain analyses of the Hopf cyclization involving ene–ene–ynes E=CH–CH=CH–C≡...
Scheme 3: 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions between t-BuN3 and cyaphide complexes.
Figure 9: Evolution of the NICS(3, +1) values along a z-axis perpendicular to the molecular plane of the TSs ...
Figure 10: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the 1,3-dipolar...
pH-Controlled isomerization kinetics of ortho-disubstituted benzamidines: E/Z isomerism and axial chirality
- Ryota Kimura,
- Satoshi Ichikawa and
- Akira Katsuyama
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1568–1576, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.120
- axially chiral anilines [10][11] and a triazine molecule [9]. In particular, protonation of a remote basic site in N–C axially chiral anilines significantly increases the rotational barrier by attenuating resonance stabilization in the transition state. One important issue in this field is the development
- calculated the distance between the imino carbon atom and the nitrogen atom of the NMe₂ moiety (d) for local minimum and transition-state structures (Figure 2). In the local minimum and transition state of the C–N rotation and C–N/C–C concerted rotation, protonation leads to a shortening of the C–N bond by
- double-bond nature of the C–N bond in the transition state of the C–N/C–C concerted rotation was decreased due to the twisted structure, and the activation energy varies depending on whether the amidine was protonated or in its molecular form (Figure 2). To investigate the effect of protonation on the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: a) Structural features of DiBA. b) Resonance structure of the amide moiety of DiBA. c) Molecular fo...
Figure 2: Rotational barriers of 2-bromo-N,N,6-trimethylbenzimidamide and its protonated form calculated by t...
Figure 3: Comparison of VT-NMR spectra of a) amidine 1 and b) its trifluoroacetate salt 1-H+ in DMSO-d6 (400 ...
Figure 4: Separation and isolation of amidine E/Z isomers by RP-HPLC. The mobile phase contained CF3CO2H to p...
Figure 5: Kinetic analysis of the isomerization of Z-2-H+ to E-2-H+ at different pH (pH 4.6, 5.5, and 6.5). I...
Figure 6: Correlation between E/Z isomerization rate constant and pH. The result indicates that C–N rotation ...
Figure 7: a) Correlation between isomerization rate constant and electronic effects of the substituents. b) P...
Figure 8: Analysis of the rate of racemization of 1 at various pH at 70 °C. Each circle shows the experimenta...
Wittig reaction of cyclobisbiphenylenecarbonyl
- Taito Moribe,
- Junichiro Hirano,
- Hideaki Takano,
- Hiroshi Shinokubo and
- Norihito Fukui
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1454–1461, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.107
- , the racemization barrier of 5 (34.8 kcal mol−1) is larger than that of CBBC 1 (33.7 kcal mol−1), which accords with the experimental results. In the transition state TS2, the exocyclic olefin unit a is close to the adjacent benzene ring b, which causes intramolecular steric repulsion to increase the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Synthesis and structures of CBBC 1.
Scheme 1: Wittig reactions of CBBC 1.
Figure 2: X-ray crystal structures of (a) 3, (b) 4, and (c) 5 with thermal ellipsoids at 50% probability; all...
Figure 3: VT 1H NMR spectra of 5 in CD2Cl2 at (a) 298 K, (b) 243 K, and (c) 203 K. Blue circle and red triang...
Figure 4: Simulated dynamics of bis-olefin 5 at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The description for the c...
Figure 5: (a) UV–vis absorption (solid lines) and emission (dashed lines) spectra of 1 (black), 3 (blue), and ...
Scheme 2: Conversion of mono-olefin 3 to internally functionalized DBC derivative 6.
Tautomerism and switching in 7-hydroxy-8-(azophenyl)quinoline and similar compounds
- Lidia Zaharieva,
- Vera Deneva,
- Fadhil S. Kamounah,
- Nikolay Vassilev,
- Ivan Angelov,
- Michael Pittelkow and
- Liudmil Antonov
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1404–1421, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.105
- conventional UV–vis spectroscopy, suggesting preferable population of intramolecular hydrogen bonding stabilized E. Comparing the angles α of the E* form (13°) and the transition state between E and Ecis (60°) the former is nearer to the geometry of E, suggesting preferable population. The excitation of KE
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Investigated compounds.
Scheme 2: Long-range PT in the studied compounds along with undesired processes of E/Z isomerization. The ind...
Figure 1: Simulated absorption spectra of the tautomers of 1 in toluene. The spectra in acetonitrile are show...
Figure 2: Normalized absorption spectra of 1.
Figure 3: Absorption spectra of 1 in acetonitrile with stepwise addition of water.
Figure 4: VT 1H NMR spectra of compound 1 in acetonitrile-d3.
Figure 5: Changes in the absorption spectrum of 2 in acetonitrile upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)...
Figure 6: Ground (M06-2X/TZVP) and excited (CAM-B3LYP/TZVP) state potential energy surface of compound 1 in t...
Figure 7: Changes of the absorbance of compound 1 at 465 nm in toluene upon turning on and off the irradiatio...
Figure 8: a) Change of ΔE(K-E) in kcal/mol as a function of the substitution on different positions (2–6) in ...
Scheme 3: Perspective switching compounds, generated by the computational quantum chemistry calculations.
Oxetanes: formation, reactivity and total syntheses of natural products
- Peter Gabko,
- Martin Kalník and
- Maroš Bella
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1324–1373, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.101
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Bond lengths and bond angles in oxetane at 140 K [2].
Figure 2: Analogy of 3-substituted oxetanes to carbonyl and gem-dimethyl groups [12].
Figure 3: Use of oxetanes in drug design – selected examples.
Figure 4: Examples of oxetane-containing natural products.
Scheme 1: Synthetic strategies towards construction of the oxetane ring.
Scheme 2: Overview of intramolecular Williamson etherification and competing Grob fragmentation.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of spiro-oxetanes via 1,4-C–H insertion and Williamson etherification.
Scheme 4: Use of phenyl vinyl selenone in the synthesis of spirooxindole oxetanes.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of bicyclic 3,5-anhydrofuranoses via double epoxide opening/etherification.
Scheme 6: Preparation of spirooxetanes by cycloisomerisation via MHAT/RPC.
Scheme 7: Oxetane synthesis via alcohol C–H functionalisation.
Scheme 8: Access to oxetanes 38 from α-acetyloxy iodides.
Scheme 9: The kilogram-scale synthesis of oxetane intermediate 41.
Scheme 10: Overview of the intramolecular opening of 3-membered rings.
Scheme 11: Synthesis of 4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octane skeletons.
Scheme 12: Silicon-directed electrophilic cyclisation of homoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 13: Hydrosilylation–iodocyclisation of homopropargylic alcohols.
Scheme 14: Cu-catalysed intramolecular O-vinylation of γ-bromohomoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 15: Cu-catalysed intramolecular cross-coupling of hydroxyvinylstannanes.
Scheme 16: Isomerisation of oxiranyl ethers containing weakly carbanion-stabilising groups.
Scheme 17: Cyclisation of diethyl haloalkoxymalonates.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of oxetanes through a 1,5-HAT/radical recombination sequence.
Scheme 19: General approach to oxetanes via [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 20: Synthesis of tricyclic 4:4:4 oxetanes through a photochemical triple cascade reaction.
Scheme 21: Iridium-catalysed Paternò–Büchi reaction between α-ketoesters and simple alkenes.
Scheme 22: Three-step synthesis of spirocyclic oxetanes 83 via Paternò–Büchi reaction, nucleophilic ring openi...
Scheme 23: Enantioselective Paternò–Büchi reaction catalysed by a chiral iridium photocatalyst.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of polysubstituted oxetanes 92 via Cu(II)-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 25: Synthesis of alkylideneoxetanes via NHC- and DBU-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 26: Use of sulphur-stabilised carbanions in ring expansions.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of α,α-difluoro(arylthio)methyl oxetanes.
Scheme 28: Ring expansion in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 29: Ring contraction of triflated 2-hydroxy-γ-lactones.
Scheme 30: Ring contraction in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 31: Photochemical ring contraction of 2,5-dihydrofurans by aryldiazoacetic acid esters.
Scheme 32: Synthesis of 3-oxetanones via O-H insertion of carbenes.
Scheme 33: Synthesis of phosphonate oxetanones via gold-mediated alkyne oxidation/O–H insertion.
Scheme 34: Syntheses and common derivatisations of 3-oxetanone.
Scheme 35: SN1 substitution of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols by thiols and alcohols.
Scheme 36: Fe–Ni dual-catalytic olefin hydroarylation towards 3-alkyl-3-(hetero)aryloxetanes.
Scheme 37: Synthesis of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 38: Decarboxylative alkylation of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 39: Synthesis of 3-amino-3-aryloxetanes via photoredox/nickel cross-coupling catalysis.
Scheme 40: Intermolecular cross-selective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition towards spirooxetanes.
Scheme 41: Synthesis of 3-aryl-3-aminooxetanes via defluorosulphonylative coupling.
Scheme 42: Two-step synthesis of amide bioisosteres via benzotriazolyl Mannich adducts 170.
Scheme 43: Functionalisation of oxetanyl trichloroacetimidates 172.
Scheme 44: Synthesis of oxetane-amino esters 176.
Scheme 45: Tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intramolecular ring opening of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of polysubstituted furans and pyrroles.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of oxazolines and bisoxazolines.
Scheme 48: Tandem, one-pot syntheses of various polycyclic heterocycles.
Scheme 49: Synthesis of 1,2-dihydroquinolines via skeletal reorganisation of oxetanes.
Scheme 50: Synthesis of benzoindolines and 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and their derivatisations.
Scheme 51: Synthesis of polysubstituted 1,4-dioxanes.
Scheme 52: Preparation of various lactones via ring opening of oxetane-carboxylic acids 219.
Scheme 53: Tsuji-Trost allylation/ring opening of 3-aminooxetanes.
Scheme 54: Arylative skeletal rearrangement of 3-vinyloxetan-3-ols to 2,5-dihydrofurans.
Scheme 55: Reductive opening of oxetanes using catalytic Mg–H species.
Scheme 56: Opening of oxetanes by silyl ketene acetals.
Scheme 57: Rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation of oxetanes.
Scheme 58: Generation of radicals from oxetanes mediated by a vitamin B12-derived cobalt catalyst.
Scheme 59: Reductive opening of oxetanes by B–Si frustrated Lewis pairs.
Scheme 60: Zirconocene-mediated reductive opening of oxetanes.
Scheme 61: Enantioselective syntheses of small and medium-size rings using chiral phosphoric acids.
Scheme 62: Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepines catalysed by a chiral scandium complex.
Scheme 63: Enantioselective synthesis of 1,3-bromohydrins under a chiral squaramide catalysis.
Scheme 64: Enantioselective opening of 2-aryl-2-ethynyloxetanes by anilines.
Scheme 65: Ru-catalysed insertion of diazocarbonyls into oxetanes.
Scheme 66: Ring expansion of oxetanes by stabilised carbenes generated under blue light irradiation.
Scheme 67: Expansion of oxetanes via nickel-catalysed insertion of alkynyltrifluoroborates.
Scheme 68: Nickel-catalysed expansion of oxetanes into ε-caprolactones.
Scheme 69: Expansion of oxetanes via cobalt-catalysed carbonyl insertion.
Scheme 70: Gold-catalysed intramolecular 1,1-carboalkoxylation of oxetane-ynamides.
Scheme 71: Expansion of oxetanes by stabilised sulphoxonium ylides.
Scheme 72: Cu-catalysed ring expansion of 2-vinyloxetanes by diazoesters.
Scheme 73: Total synthesis of (+)-oxetin.
Scheme 74: Total synthesis of racemic oxetanocin A.
Scheme 75: Total synthesis of (−)-merrilactone A.
Scheme 76: Total synthesis of (+)-dictyoxetane.
Scheme 77: Total synthesis of ent-dichrocephone B.
Scheme 78: Total synthesis of (−)-mitrephorone A.
Scheme 79: Total synthesis of (−)-taxol.
Recent advances in amidyl radical-mediated photocatalytic direct intermolecular hydrogen atom transfer
- Hao-Sen Wang,
- Lin Li,
- Xin Chen,
- Jian-Li Wu,
- Kai Sun,
- Xiao-Lan Chen,
- Ling-Bo Qu and
- Bing Yu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1306–1323, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.100
- activation energy modulation during transition state formation. Specifically, donor/acceptor electronic configurations in the substrate could either stabilize or destabilize the transient hybrid state, thereby thermodynamically governing the energy barrier for intermolecular HAT progression. When the partial
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: (a) BDE of C–H. (b) Direct functionalization of C–H catalyzed by transition-metal. (c) Direct funct...
Figure 2: (a) Amidyl radical-enabled hydrogen atom transfer. (b) Substituent effects to amidyl radical proper...
Figure 3: Representative photocatalysts discussed in this review.
Scheme 1: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 2: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 3: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical and metal-free photocatalyst under visible light....
Scheme 4: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H, Si–H, and Ge–H catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 5: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by synergistic promotion of amidyl radical and photoca...
Scheme 6: Direct B–H functionalization of icosahedral carboranes catalyzed by amidyl radical under visible li...
Scheme 7: Nucleophilic amination of C(sp3)–H enabled by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 8: Direct heteroarylation of C(sp3)–H and C(sp3)–H without the presence of strong bases, acids, or oxi...
Scheme 9: Xanthylation of C(sp3)–H addressed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 10: Xanthylation of C(sp3)–H in polyolefins addressed by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 11: Site-selective C(sp3)–H bromination implemented by amidyl radical under visible light.
Scheme 12: Site-selective chlorination of C(sp3)–H in natural products implemented by amidyl radical under vis...
Scheme 13: Alkylation of C(sp3)–H catalyzed by amidyl radical photocatalyst under visible light.
Enhancing chemical synthesis planning: automated quantum mechanics-based regioselectivity prediction for C–H activation with directing groups
- Julius Seumer,
- Nicolai Ree and
- Jan H. Jensen
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1171–1182, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.94
- structure on the potential energy surface is located, which can be done straightforwardly using standard optimization algorithms. While the use of intermediate energies provides a computationally efficient alternative to explicit transition state searches, it rests on the assumption that there is a
- the transition state [10][11]. The site with the lowest reaction energy is expected to correspond to the experimentally observed reaction site. Therefore, instead of locating the structure of the transition state, the preceding palladacycle intermediate structure is generated and optimized, as shown
- theory or perform a transition state search to calculate the activation energy. With this threshold, we obtain 70% correct, 14.5% semi-correct, and 14.5% wrong predictions over the whole dataset. For six out of 17 molecules, all possible reaction sites are predicted as reaction sites within the threshold
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Overview of the predictive workflow: For the shown substrate on the left, three unique activation s...
Figure 2: Example of the output from running the SMARTS pattern approach introduced by Tomberg et al. [9] with t...
Figure 3: An example where our algorithm found a more specific SMARTS pattern match than highlighted in Tombe...
Figure 4: An example highlighting the difficulties in prioritizing the SMARTS patterns. All three patterns ma...
Figure 5: Example of a combination of C–H bond and DG that is discarded because of the angle constraint on th...
Figure 6: Example of combinations of C–H bonds and DGs that are considered identical because of symmetry of t...
Figure 7: Example of combinations of C–H bonds and DGs that are considered identical because of symmetry of t...
Figure 8: Example of combinations of C–H bonds and DGs that are considered identical because of resonance str...
Figure 9: A: Distribution of correct (green) and wrong (red) predictions for molecules with two to five poten...
Figure 10: Molecules with five potential reaction sites that are predicted wrong by the QM workflow. The exper...
Figure 11: Predictions of reaction sites within a 1 kcal·mol−1 threshold for ten molecules are marked with a b...
Figure 12: Substrate with six potential unique reaction sites for C–H functionalization. The experimentally de...
A multicomponent reaction-initiated synthesis of imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones
- Ashutosh Nath,
- John Mark Awad and
- Wei Zhang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1161–1169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.92
- . A comprehensive DFT investigation of reactant 6 was carried out to analyze the transition state of the IMDA reaction for a Br-substituted diene and its charge distribution (Figure 2). The diene has a notable positive charge (+0.318, +0.098, 6a), (+0.334, +0.082, 6h) and (+0.316, +0.074, 6r) whereas
- calculated using the Gaussian 16 software (Figure 3) [21]. The N-acylated compound 6a has a baseline relative energy of 0 kJ/mol, while the transition state of the Diels–Alder (TS-DA) reaction presents the highest energy barrier at 1.221 kJ/mol. The DA adduct shows a little lower energy at 1.001 kJ/mol
- , indicating a smooth transition from the transition state to the product. The final dehydrative ring-opening gives products by decreasing the energy to 0.978 kJ/mol. Computational analysis indicates that the IMDA step has a high energy barrier which needs a catalyst, while the dehydrative re-aromatization
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Bioactive compounds bearing imidazopyridine (red) and isoquinolinone-kind (blue) rings.
Scheme 1: GBB-initiated synthesis of imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones.
Scheme 2: GBB reaction and N-acylation for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 6.
Scheme 3: Substrate scope for IMDA and dehydrative aromatization in making 8. Reaction conditions: 6 and AlCl3...
Figure 2: Transition state analysis of IMDA reactions for 6a, 6j, 6h and 6r.
Figure 3: Relative energy diagram for the synthesis of 8a from 6a.
Scheme 4: Using thiophene-2-carbaldehyde for the synthesis of 8t.
Scheme 5: Proposed mechanisms for IMDA reaction and dehydration re-aromatization.
Salen–scandium(III) complex-catalyzed asymmetric (3 + 2) annulation of aziridines and aldehydes
- Linqiang Wang and
- Jiaxi Xu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1087–1094, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.86
- carboxylate groups followed by a ring opening of the aziridine ring, forming azomethine ylide intermediates A. The intermediates A further undergo a [2 + 3] annulation (or cycloaddition) with aldehydes 2 through endo transition state TS to generate intermediates B, which release products 3 with regeneration
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Oxazolidine-containing bioactive compounds.
Scheme 1: Asymmetric catalytic synthetic methods of oxazolidine derivatives.
Scheme 2: Scope of aziridines and aldehydes.
Scheme 3: Proposed reaction mechanism.
Scheme 4: Gram-scale synthesis.
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
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Biologically active cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 1: General synthetic strategies for cinnamic acid derivatizations.
Scheme 2: Cinnamic acid coupling via isobutyl anhydride formation.
Scheme 3: Amidation reaction via O/N-pivaloyl activation.
Scheme 4: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 5: Cinnamic acid amidation using triazine-based reagents.
Scheme 6: Cinnamic acid amidation using continuous flow mechanochemistry.
Scheme 7: Cinnamic acid amidation using COMU as coupling reagent.
Scheme 8: Cinnamic acid amidation using allenone coupling reagent.
Scheme 9: Cinnamic acid amidation using 4-acetamidophenyl triflimide as reagent.
Scheme 10: Cinnamic acid amidation using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTM).
Scheme 11: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing amine–borane reagent.
Scheme 12: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 13: Cinnamic acid amidation using PPh3/I2 reagent.
Scheme 14: Cinnamic acid amidation using PCl3 reagent.
Scheme 15: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing pentafluoropyridine (PFP) as reagent.
Scheme 16: Cinnamic acid amidation using hypervalent iodine(III).
Scheme 17: Mechanochemical amidation using 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-N,N-dimethylamine (TFEDMA) reagent.
Scheme 18: Methyl ester preparation using tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMPP).
Scheme 19: N-Trifluoromethyl amide preparation using isothiocyanate and AgF.
Scheme 20: POCl3-mediated amide coupling of carboxylic acid and DMF.
Scheme 21: O-Alkylation of cinnamic acid using alkylating agents.
Scheme 22: Glycoside preparation via Mitsunobu reaction.
Scheme 23: O/N-Acylation via rearrangement reactions.
Scheme 24: Amidation reactions using sulfur-based alkylating agents.
Scheme 25: Amidation reaction catalyzed by Pd0 via C–N cleavage.
Scheme 26: Amidation reaction catalyzed by CuCl/PPh3.
Scheme 27: Cu(II) triflate-catalyzed N-difluoroethylimide synthesis.
Scheme 28: Cu/Selectfluor-catalyzed transamidation reaction.
Scheme 29: CuO–CaCO3-catalyzed amidation reaction.
Scheme 30: Ni-catalyzed reductive amidation.
Scheme 31: Lewis acidic transition-metal-catalyzed O/N-acylations.
Scheme 32: Visible-light-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 33: Sunlight/LED-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 34: Organophotocatalyst-promoted N–O cleavage of Weinreb amides to synthesize primary amides.
Scheme 35: Cinnamamide synthesis through [Ir] photocatalyst-promoted C–N-bond cleavage of tertiary amines.
Scheme 36: Blue LED-promoted FeCl3-catalyzed reductive transamidation.
Scheme 37: FPyr/TCT-catalyzed amidation of cinnamic acid derivative 121.
Scheme 38: Cs2CO3/DMAP-mediated esterification.
Scheme 39: HBTM organocatalyzed atroposelective N-acylation.
Scheme 40: BH3-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 41: Borane-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 42: Catalytic N-acylation reactions via H/F bonding activation.
Scheme 43: Brønsted base-catalyzed synthesis of cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 44: DABCO/Fe3O4-catalyzed N-methyl amidation of cinnamic acid 122.
Scheme 45: Catalytic oxidation reactions of acylating agents.
Scheme 46: Preparation of cinnamamide-substituted benzocyclooctene using I(I)/I(III) catalysis.
Scheme 47: Pd-colloids-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 48: Graphene-supported Pd/Au alloy-catalyzed oxidative esterification via hemiacetal intermediate.
Scheme 49: Au-supported on A) carbon nanotubes (CNT) and B) on porous boron nitride (pBN) as catalyst for the ...
Scheme 50: Cr-based catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohols with H2O2 as the oxidant.
Scheme 51: Co-based catalysts used for oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 52: Iron (A) and copper (B)-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 53: NiHPMA-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 54: Synthesis of cinammic acid esters through NHC-catalyzed oxidative esterification via intermolecular...
Scheme 55: Redox-active NHC-catalyzed esterification via intramolecular oxidation.
Scheme 56: Electrochemical conversion of cinnamaldehyde to methyl cinnamate.
Scheme 57: Bu4NI/TBHP-catalyzed synthesis of bisamides from cinnamalaldehyde N-tosylhydrazone.
Scheme 58: Zn/NC-950-catalyzed oxidative esterification of ketone 182.
Scheme 59: Ru-catalyzed oxidative carboxylation of terminal alkenes.
Scheme 60: Direct carboxylation of alkenes using CO2.
Scheme 61: Carboxylation of alkenylboronic acid/ester.
Scheme 62: Carboxylation of gem-difluoroalkenes with CO2.
Scheme 63: Photoredox-catalyzed carboxylation of difluoroalkenes.
Scheme 64: Ru-catalyzed carboxylation of alkenyl halide.
Scheme 65: Carboxylation of alkenyl halides under flow conditions.
Scheme 66: Cinnamic acid ester syntheses through carboxylation of alkenyl sulfides/sulfones.
Scheme 67: Cinnamic acid derivatives synthesis through a Ag-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling proceedin...
Scheme 68: Pd-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 69: Fe-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 70: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using CO2.
Scheme 71: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using HCO2H as CO surrogate.
Scheme 72: Co/AlMe3-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarboxylation using DMF.
Scheme 73: Au-catalyzed oxidation of Au–allenylidenes.
Scheme 74: Pd-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of cyclopropenones to synthesize unsaturated esters and amides.
Scheme 75: Ag-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 76: Cu-catalyzed C–C bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 77: PPh3-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 78: Catalyst-free C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 79: Cu-catalyzed dioxolane cleavage.
Scheme 80: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 81: Pd-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of electrophilic alkynes.
Scheme 82: Nickel and cobalt as earth-abundant transition metals used as catalysts for the partial hydrogenati...
Scheme 83: Metal-free-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of conjugated alkynes.
Scheme 84: Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction between triethyl 2-fluoro-2-phosphonoacetate and aldehydes with ei...
Scheme 85: Preparation of E/Z-cinnamates using thiouronium ylides.
Scheme 86: Transition-metal-catalyzed ylide reactions.
Scheme 87: Redox-driven ylide reactions.
Scheme 88: Noble transition-metal-catalyzed olefination via carbenoid species.
Scheme 89: TrBF4-catalyzed olefination via carbene species.
Scheme 90: Grubbs catalyst (cat 7)/photocatalyst-mediated metathesis reactions.
Scheme 91: Elemental I2-catalyzed carbonyl-olefin metathesis.
Scheme 92: Cu-photocatalyzed E-to-Z isomerization of cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 93: Ni-catalyzed E-to-Z isomerization.
Scheme 94: Dehydration of β-hydroxy esters via an E1cB mechanism to access (E)-cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 95: Domino ring-opening reaction induced by a base.
Scheme 96: Dehydroamination of α-aminoester derivatives.
Scheme 97: Accessing methyl cinnamate (44) via metal-free deamination or decarboxylation.
Scheme 98: The core–shell magnetic nanosupport-catalyzed condensation reaction.
Scheme 99: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives from acetic acid esters/amides through α-olefination.
Scheme 100: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives via acceptorless α,β-dehydrogenation.
Scheme 101: Cu-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition.
Scheme 102: Pd-catalyzed C–C bond formation via 1,4-Pd-shift.
Scheme 103: NHC-catalyzed Rauhut–Currier reactions.
Scheme 104: Heck-type reaction for Cα arylation.
Scheme 105: Cu-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of cinnamamide.
Scheme 106: Ru-catalyzed alkenylation of arenes using directing groups.
Scheme 107: Earth-abundant transition-metal-catalyzed hydroarylation of α,β-alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 108: Precious transition-metal-catalyzed β-arylation of cinnamic acid amide/ester.
Scheme 109: Pd-catalyzed β-amination of cinnamamide.
Scheme 110: S8-mediated β-amination of methyl cinnamate (44).
Scheme 111: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynyl esters with phenylsilanes.
Scheme 112: Pd-catalyzed β-cyanation of alkynyl amide/ester.
Scheme 113: Au-catalyzed β-amination of alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 114: Metal-free-catalyzed Cβ-functionalizations of alkynyl esters.
Scheme 115: Heck-type reactions.
Scheme 116: Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions using unconventional functionalized arenes.
Scheme 117: Functional group-directed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 118: Pd nanoparticles-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 119: Catellani-type reactions to access methyl cinnamate with multifunctionalized arene.
Scheme 120: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 121: Single atom Pt-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction.
Scheme 122: Earth-abundant transition metal-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 123: Polymer-coated earth-abundant transition metals-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 124: Earth-abundant transition-metal-based nanoparticles as catalysts for Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 125: CN- and Si-based directing groups to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 126: Amide-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 127: Carbonyl-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 128: Stereoselective preparation of atropisomers via o-selective C(sp2)–H functionalization.
Scheme 129: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 130: para-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 131: Non-directed C(sp2)–H functionalization via electrooxidative Fujiwara–Moritani reaction.
Scheme 132: Interconversion of functional groups attached to cinnamic acid.
Scheme 133: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization of cinnamate ester.
Scheme 134: C(sp2)–F arylation using Grignard reagents.
Scheme 135: Truce–Smiles rearrangement of N-aryl metacrylamides.
Scheme 136: Phosphine-catalyzed cyclization of γ-vinyl allenoate with enamino esters.
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
- relaxation into the CT D1 state, from where emission back to the D0 ground state may occur. Weak donors will exhibit a high energy transition state to crossover from the excited LE to the CT state (large ΔGCT‡, point 1 in Figure 9). In absence of any excess energy, the LE will relax non-radiatively to the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: a) Tris(trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radical and related trityl radicals, b) HDMO, SOMO, LUMO orbit...
Figure 2: Mixed halide tri- and perhalogenated triphenylmethyl radicals: a) Molecular structures of homo- and...
Figure 3: Pyridine-functionalized triarylmethyl radicals. a) Chemical structures of X2PyBTM, Py2MTM, and Au-F2...
Figure 4: Pyridine-functionalized triarylmethyl radicals. a) Molecular structure of Mes2F2PyBTM, and b) its f...
Figure 5: Carbazole functionalized triarylmethyl radical. a) Chemical structure of Cz-BTM and b) its energy d...
Figure 6: Donor-functionalized triphenylmethyl radicals. Molecular structures of TTM-Cz, DTM-Cz, TTM-3PCz, PT...
Figure 7: Tuning of the donor strength. Functionalization with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing gro...
Figure 8: Tuning of the donor strength, by varying the Cz-derived donor (1–36) on a TTM radical fragment. a) ...
Figure 9: Three-state model and Marcus theory: q is the charge transfer coordinate and G the free energy. Gro...
Figure 10: Dendronized carbazole donors on TTM radicals. a) Molecular structures of G3TTM and G4TTM. b) Photol...
Figure 11: Electronic extension of the Cz donor. a) Molecular structures and optoelectronic properties of TTM-...
Figure 12: Kekulé diradicals: a) hexadeca- and perchlorinated Thiele (TTH, PTH), Chichibabin (TTM-TTM, PTM-PTM...
Figure 13: Non-Kekulé diradicals: perchlorinated Schlenk–Brauns radical (m-PTH), meta-coupled TTM radicals in ...
Figure 14: UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra of a) TTH in solvents of different polarity, b) dir...
Figure 15: Molecular structures of m-4BTH (meta-butylated Thiele hydrocarbon), m-4TTH (meta-trichlorinated Thi...
Figure 16: a) Polystyrene-based TTM-Cz polymer. b) Molecular structure of radical particles with backbone thro...
Figure 17: Molecular structures of polyradicals. a) Molecular structures of p-TBr6Cl3M-F8, p-TBr6Cl3M-acF8 and ...
Figure 18: Structures of coordination and metal-organic frameworks. a) Carboxylic acid functionalized monomers...
Figure 19: Structures of coordination and metal-organic frameworks. a) Molecular structures of monomers TTMDI, ...
Figure 20: Molecular structures of covalent organic frameworks m-TPM-Ph-COF, m-PTM-Ph-COF, p-TPH-COF, p-PTH-COF...
Figure 21: Molecular structures of covalent organic frameworks PTMAc-COF, oxTAMAc-COF, TOTAc-COF, PTMTAz-COF, p...
A convergent synthetic approach to the tetracyclic core framework of khayanolide-type limonoids
- Zhiyang Zhang,
- Jialei Hu,
- Hanfeng Ding,
- Li Zhang and
- Peirong Rao
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 926–934, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.75
- single product, with no detection of 34 (Table 1, entry 11). This result presumably arises from the minimization of dipole–dipole repulsions between the carbonyl of the dienone moiety and the C14-OMe within the desired transition state (more details were discussed in our group’s previous work [29
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative limonoid triterpenes.
Scheme 1: Structures and retrosynthetic analysis of krishnolides A (7) and C (8).
Scheme 2: Construction of α-iodoenone 13.
Scheme 3: Construction of aldehyde 14.
Scheme 4: Synthesis of the advanced intermediate 10 (in the X ray structure of 10 solvent molecule is omitted...
Cu–Bpin-mediated dimerization of 4,4-dichloro-2-butenoic acid derivatives enables the synthesis of densely functionalized cyclopropanes
- Patricia Gómez-Roibás,
- Andrea Chaves-Pouso and
- Martín Fañanás-Mastral
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 877–883, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.71
- addition to a second molecule of 1. Given the negative results observed for other crotonate derivatives (Scheme 3c), coordination between the Li cation and the two chlorine atoms via proposed transition state D may be crucial not only for diastereoselective control but also for the viability of this step
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Chemodivergent reactivity observed in copper-catalyzed borylative couplings of allylic gem-dichlori...
Scheme 2: Cu-Bpin-mediated dimerization of 4,4-dichoro-2-butenoic acid derivatives.
Scheme 3: Control experiments.
Scheme 4: Proposed mechanism for the Cu-catalyzed dimerization of 4,4-dichoro-2-butenoic acid derivatives.
Scheme 5: a) KOt-Bu-mediated intramolecular cyclization of 9. b) Direct formation of cyclopropane 20 from gem...
Substituent effects in N-acetylated phenylazopyrazole photoswitches
- Radek Tovtik,
- Dennis Marzin,
- Pia Weigel,
- Stefano Crespi and
- Nadja A. Simeth
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 830–838, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.66
- involvement of a triplet state mechanism, which crosses the transition state for the Z→E relaxation, could explain the low values of the activation entropy. The same authors also showed experimental evidence for this proposal by an external heavy atom effect on Z→E isomerization. To understand the thermal Z→E
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Reaction pathway for synthesizing NH-substituted, methylated-, and acetylated arylazopyrazoles. Con...
Figure 1: UV–vis absorption spectra of selected NAc-PAP derivatives in CH3CN. The strong π→π* can be observed...
Figure 2: A) Time-resolved UV–vis absorption spectra of NAc-PAP-CN upon 365 nm irradiation (12.5 µM in CH3CN,...
Figure 3: Hammett plot of NAc-PAP derivatives.
Figure 4: Eyring plots for NAc-PAP-CN and NAc-PAP-OMe.
