Formaldehyde surrogates in multicomponent reactions

• Cecilia I. Attorresi,
• Javier A. Ramírez and
• Bernhard Westermann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 564–595, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.45

• traps the sulfonium ylide (Scheme 16). In an independent work, Mhaske et al. proposed an alternative methodology to furnish β-amino ketone 20a (Scheme 17), using DMSO as a formaldehyde surrogate but with activation via ammonium persulfate (APS), avoiding the use of transition-metal catalysis [51]. In

Photomechanochemistry: harnessing mechanical forces to enhance photochemical reactions

• Francesco Mele,
• Ana M. Constantin,
• Andrea Porcheddu,
• Raimondo Maggi,
• Giovanni Maestri,
• Nicola Della Ca’ and
• Luca Capaldo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 458–472, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.33

• -workers in 2022. They reported the photo-thermo-mechanochemical approach for the synthesis of quinolines from sulfoxonium ylides and 2-vinylanilines promoted by an iron(II) phthalocyanine (FeIIPc) photocatalyst (Scheme 3) [65]. First, a mixture of 2-(1-phenylvinyl)aniline (3.1), sulfoxonium ylide 3.2, and

Dioxazolones as electrophilic amide sources in copper-catalyzed and -mediated transformations

• Seungmin Lee,
• Minsuk Kim,
• Hyewon Han and
• Jongwoo Son

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 200–216, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.12

• depicted in Figure 2. The reaction is initiated by formation of the five-membered copper-containing intermediate INT-5 through coordination of Cu(OAc)2 with the N-iminoquinolinium ylide species 5. This process is followed by decarboxylative N–O bond insertion into 4, yielding the N-acyl copper(III

Recent advances in electrochemical copper catalysis for modern organic synthesis

• Yemin Kim and
• Won Jun Jang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 155–178, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.9

• copper-coordinated azomethine ylide 39. Subsequently, the chiral products 35–37 are produced through the reaction between the metalated azomethine ylide 39 and the quinone intermediate 38. The reaction pathway, either 1,4-addition or 1,6-addition, depends on the structure of the hydroquinone 34. The less

Synthesis of 2H-azirine-2,2-dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives

• Anastasiya V. Agafonova,
• Mikhail S. Novikov and
• Alexander F. Khlebnikov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3191–3197, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.264

• azirine dicarboxylic acid 6j, oxazole-4-carboxylic acid 9 was isolated. Apparently, azirine 2j underwent ring opening at higher temperature to nitrile ylide 7, which after cyclization and hydrolysis gave acid 9 (Scheme 3) (cf., e.g. [23]). Next, given that the preparation of 2H-azirine-2-carboxamides from

• because the isomerization of 3-(tert-butyl)-5-chloroisoxazole-4-carbonyl chloride did not occur at room temperature, but at elevated temperature (82 °C) the reaction proceeded via the formation of the nitrile ylide, which cyclized to 2-(tert-butyl)-5-chlorooxazole-4-carbonyl chloride. 3-Phenyl-2H-azirine

Direct trifluoroethylation of carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides using hypervalent iodine compounds

• Radell Echemendía,
• Carlee A. Montgomery,
• Fabio Cuzzucoli,
• Antonio C. B. Burtoloso and
• Graham K. Murphy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3182–3190, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.263

• successful derivatization of sulfoxonium ylides with trifluoroethyl or tetrafluoropropyl groups, and provides valuable insights into the scope and limitations of this approach. Nineteen examples have been prepared (45–92% yields), with structural diversity modified at two key sites on the sulfoxonium ylide

• reactants. Finally, DFT calculations provided insights about the mechanism of this transformation, which strongly suggest that an SN2 reaction is operative. Keywords: alkylation; DFT calculations; fluorine chemistry; hypervalent iodine; sulfoxonium ylide; sulphur ylides; Introduction Introducing fluorine

• those that lead to α-alkyl-substituted compounds, is still challenging [27]. For example, in the SN2 reaction of alkyl halides with sulfoxonium ylides, the initially formed α-alkyl-substituted ylide reacts further with the halide to expel the sulfoxide and ultimately generate an α-halogenated product

Advances in radical peroxidation with hydroperoxides

• Oleg V. Bityukov,
• Pavel Yu. Serdyuchenko,
• Andrey S. Kirillov,
• Gennady I. Nikishin,
• Vera A. Vil’ and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2959–3006, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.249

Recent advances in transition-metal-free arylation reactions involving hypervalent iodine salts

• Ritu Mamgain,
• Kokila Sakthivel and
• Fateh V. Singh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2891–2920, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.243

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

• bonds (Scheme 25a) [34]. Besides, the same group published a comprehensive analysis on N-ammonium ylide mediators, which were found to be superior to quinuclidine scaffolds for a chemoselective C(sp3)–H oxidation (Scheme 25b) [35]. The electrochemical C(sp3)–H fluorination of unactivated C–H bonds is

Syntheses and medicinal chemistry of spiro heterocyclic steroids

• Laura L. Romero-Hernández,
• Ana Isabel Ahuja-Casarín,
• Penélope Merino-Montiel,
• Sara Montiel-Smith,
• José Luis Vega-Báez and
• Jesús Sandoval-Ramírez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1713–1745, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.152

• ninhydrin. Estrone-derived dispiropyrrolidines 43, 44, and 45 were obtained in a regio- and stereoselective manner (ylide attacks by the α-steroidal face) in yields ranging from 66% to 72%. 1,3-Dipolar cyclization of azomethine ylides can also be achieved using (E)-steroidal arylidenes at C-16. In 2014, Liu

• starting material (35%). 16-Spiropyrazoline steroids In 2009 Mernyák et al. described the synthesis of 16-spiropyrazolines from 16-methylene-13α-estrone derivatives via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between the methylene of α,β-unsaturated ketones 53a,b and the ylide produced from the

• primarily resulted in the formation of isomers 74, in which the positive carbocation of the ylide was attacked by the double bond of methylene (C-161), followed by the addition of the negative oxygen atom of the dipole. This cycloaddition occurred highly selectively on the α-side of the double bond. Minor

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

• Ryo Tanifuji and
• Hiroki Oguri

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

• utilizing the successfully overexpressed Diels–Alderase, MaDA (Scheme 5C). The chemical synthesis of 54, tri-O-acetylated precursor of the diene component 48, commenced from phenol 50. Iodination and O-acetylations of 50 followed by coupling with phosphorus ylide 51 afforded aryl iodide 52. Subsequent

Construction of diazepine-containing spiroindolines via annulation reaction of α-halogenated N-acylhydrazones and isatin-derived MBH carbonates

• Xing Liu,
• Wenjing Shi,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1923–1932, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.143

• and proceeds through a by base-promoted annulation reaction of α-halogenated N-acylhydrazones and isatin-derived MBH carbonates. The reaction mechanism of this formal [4 + 3] annulation includes the in situ generated allylic ylide, nucleophilic substitution, Michael additon, and elimination processes

• ylide B. Thirdly, the intermediate C is formed by the nucleophilic substitution of a halide ion in substrate 1 by the allylic ylide B. Then, Michael addition of the amino group to the C=C bond results in the cyclic intermediate D. Finally, the spiro[indoline-3,5'-[1,2]diazepine] 3 is produced by the

Controlling the reactivity of La@C₈₂ by reduction: reaction of the La@C₈₂ anion with alkyl halide with high regioselectivity

• Yutaka Maeda,
• Saeka Akita,
• Mitsuaki Suzuki,
• Michio Yamada,
• Takeshi Akasaka,
• Kaoru Kobayashi and
• Shigeru Nagase

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1858–1866, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.138

• involvement of azomethine ylide; however, the detailed mechanism has not been elucidated. In this article, we describe the thermal reaction of the La@C2v-C82 anion, activated by one-electron reduction, with benzyl bromide derivatives. Results and Discussion The La@C2v-C82 anion [20] was prepared by chemical

Decarboxylative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of amino acids for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds

• Xiaofeng Zhang,
• Xiaoming Ma and
• Wei Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1677–1693, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.123

• -stabilized azomethine ylide; Introduction The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides (AMYs) [1][2][3][4][5][6] is a powerful method for the synthesis of bioactive pyrrolidine-containing compounds and natural product analogs [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. AMYs generated from the reaction of

• endo-transition state A to give spirooxindole-pyrrolizidine 17 which spontaneously reacts with another equiv of arylaldehyde to form ylide 18 in the presence of zeolite HY. The second [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 18 with 14a affords product 15a as a major product through an endo-cycloaddition and 15a’ as a

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

• under heating, followed by the formation of ylide, N–S bond cleavage, and C–N bond formation along with the release of N2. In 2019, Sun and co-workers introduced an unprecedented method for the synthesis of isothiourea derivatives via the activation of diaryl/alkyl disulfides 47 with N-halosuccinimides

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

• Carlee A. Montgomery and
• Graham K. Murphy

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

• -holes. Halogen bonding and σ-holes have been encountered in numerous monovalent and hypervalent iodine-containing compounds, and in 2022 σ-holes were computationally confirmed and quantified in the iodonium ylide subset of hypervalent iodine compounds. In light of this new discovery, this article

• provides an overview of the reactions of iodonium ylides in which halogen bonding has been invoked. Herein, we summarize key discoveries and mechanistic proposals from the early iodonium ylide literature that invoked halogen bonding-type mechanisms, as well as recent reports of reactions between iodonium

• include nucleophile σ-hole selectivity, and how ylide structural modifications and intramolecular halogen bonding (e.g., the ortho-effect) can improve ylide stability or solubility, and alter reaction outcomes. Keywords: electron donor–acceptor complex; halogen bonding; σ-holes; iodonium ylides; ortho

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

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

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

• ylide; sustainable; Introduction Arylamines are among the most privileged structural motifs appearing in various natural products, and bioactive molecules [1][2] as well as offer widespread applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and materials science [3][4]. Particularly the

• generation of carbene as a reactive intermediate [36][37]. Also, spirocyclic iodonium ylides have been used for radiolabeling techniques [38]. In 2013, Shibata’s research group reported a novel trifluoromethanesulfonyl iodonium ylide for trifluoromethylthiolation of enamines, indoles, and ketoesters

• ) with iodonium ylide 2-(phenyl-λ3-iodaneylidene)cyclohexane-1,3-dione (2a) obtained from 1,3-cyclohexanedione in the presence of copper salts as catalysts. The detailed optimization studies are described in Table 1. Initially, we treated aniline (1a, 0.2 mmol) with iodonium ylide 2a (0.24 mmol) in the

Pyridine C(sp²)–H bond functionalization under transition-metal and rare earth metal catalysis

• Haritha Sindhe,
• Malladi Mounika Reddy,
• Karthikeyan Rajkumar,
• Akshay Kamble,
• Amardeep Singh,
• Anand Kumar and
• Satyasheel Sharma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 820–863, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.62

• and the base the initial direct C–H activation of the ylide 12 gives the copper pyridinium ylide 15. The latter reacts with the diazo compound formed through reaction of hydrazone 13 with the base to give the copper–carbene species 16. Then, the intermediate 16 undergoes a Cu–carbene migratory

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

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

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

• metathesis as key step in the synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]heteropines. Alkyne–aldehyde metathesis in the synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]heteropines. Hydroarylation of 9-(2-alkynylphenyl)-9H-carbazole derivatives. Oxidative coupling of bisphonium ylide intermediate to give pacharin (13). Preparation of 10,11

Transition-metal-catalyzed domino reactions of strained bicyclic alkenes

• Austin Pounder,
• Eric Neufeld,
• Peter Myler and
• William Tam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 487–540, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.38

• to other ARO reactions, the catalytic cycle is proposed to begin with the oxidative insertion of the Rh(I) catalyst into the bridgehead C–O bond producing 204. The phosphorus ylide attacks 204 in an SN2’ fashion on the endo face giving the ring-opened 205 as well as regenerating the Rh(I) catalyst

Practical synthesis of isocoumarins via Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation cascade

• Qian-Ci Gao,
• Yi-Fei Li,
• Jun Xuan and
• Xiao-Qiang Hu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 100–106, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.10

• . The success of gram-scale reaction and diverse functionalization of isocoumarins demonstrated the synthetic utility of this protocol. Keywords: C–H activation; enaminone; iodonium ylide; isocoumarin; rhodium catalysis; Introduction Isocoumarins are an important structural motif in many naturally

• to couple iodonium ylides with enaminones in a Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation cascade reaction for the rapid construction of isocoumarins (Scheme 1c). Results and Discussion Our initial experiment was performed with enaminone 1a and iodonium ylide 1b in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 (5 mol

• -naphthyl-substituted enaminones were smoothly coupled with iodonium ylide 1b to give the expected isocoumarins 3ra and 3sa in 60% and 78%, respectively. Next, we sought to test the generality of this reaction with respect to iodonium ylides. As outlined in Scheme 3, iodonium ylides featuring dimethyl

Redox-active molecules as organocatalysts for selective oxidative transformations – an unperceived organocatalysis field

• Elena R. Lopat’eva,
• Igor B. Krylov,
• Dmitry A. Lapshin and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1672–1695, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.179

• heterocyclizations. Electrochemical N-ammonium ylide-catalyzed CH-oxidation. Oxidative dimerization of aryl- and alkenylmagnesium compounds catalyzed by quinonediimines. FLP-catalyzed dehydrogenation of N-substituted indolines. Funding This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant no. 21-13-00205).

One-pot double annulations to confer diastereoselective spirooxindolepyrrolothiazoles

• Juan Lu,
• Bin Yao,
• Desheng Zhan,
• Zhuo Sun,
• Yun Ji and
• Xiaofeng Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1607–1616, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.171

• . Subsequent decarboxylation of thiazolooxazol-1-one I affords non-stabilized azomethine ylide (AY) for 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with olefinic oxindole 4a to give spirooxindolepyrrolothiazoles 5 and 7. The endo-TS is more favorable than exo-TS for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to afford the major and minor

Electrogenerated base-promoted cyclopropanation using alkyl 2-chloroacetates

• Kouichi Matsumoto,
• Yuta Hayashi,
• Kengo Hamasaki,
• Mizuki Matsuse,
• Hiyono Suzuki,
• Keiji Nishiwaki and
• Norihito Kawashita

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1116–1122, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.114

• colleagues reported in 2000 that the reaction between a Michael acceptor such as diethyl fumarate and a sulfur-ylide, prepared from ethyl 2-diazoacetate and tetrahydro-2H-thiopyran in the presence of Cu(acac)2, yielded triethyl cyclopropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate in 68% yield (Scheme 1, reaction 1) [10]. The

Synthetic strategies for the preparation of γ-phostams: 1,2-azaphospholidine 2-oxides and 1,2-azaphospholine 2-oxides

• Jiaxi Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 889–915, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.90

• ) from the reaction of dimethyl 2-(methylamino)benzoylphosphonate (70) and trimethyl phosphite at 105 °C through an ylide intermediate D. The ylide D was generated via deoxygenation of benzoylphosphonate 70 with trimethyl phosphite to form a carbene intermediate B, and trimethyl phosphite nucleophilic