Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-fluorobenzofurans with arylboronic acids via aromatic C–F bond activation

• Takeshi Fujita,
• Haruna Yabuki,
• Ryutaro Morioka,
• Kohei Fuchibe and
• Junji Ichikawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 146–154, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.8

• organic chemistry owing to their high bond dissociation energy compared to other aromatic C–X (X = Cl, Br, I) bonds [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. This activation is essential for the late-stage functionalization of stable C–F bonds in complex molecules with reactive functional groups, providing an orthogonal

Recent advances in organocatalytic atroposelective reactions

• Henrich Szabados and
• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 55–121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.6

• -catalyzed reaction of indoles 210 with 2-nitrosonaphthalenes 211 was conducted in 2020 (Scheme 63) [93]. In combination with catalyst hydrogen bonding, the nitroso group was identified as a suitable partner for the nucleophilic substitution by possessing a sufficiently low LUMO energy value. Based on the

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

• Technological University, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117544, Republic of Singapore Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science Technology

• energy consumption and reduced use of hazardous materials, contributing to more sustainable chemical processes. Integrating ML algorithms to simultaneously optimize multiple parameters such as yield, purity, and cost within a closed-loop represents a significant advancement in process design. Furthermore

Synthesis, structure and π-expansion of tris(4,5-dehydro-2,3:6,7-dibenzotropone)

• Yongming Xiong,
• Xue Lin Ma,
• Shilong Su and
• Qian Miao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1–7, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.1

• dibenzotropone moieties capable of flapping with small energy barriers. This is supported by the 1H NMR spectrum of compound 1 (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S11), which presents only four different signals due to rapid conformational shifts in solution. Additional evidence of the small energy barrier

• in 3, which consume the energy of the excited state. Figure 4 shows the UV–vis absorption spectrum of 3 in cyclohexane with the absorption edge at 561 nm and its emission spectrum with a peak at 580 nm. In the test windows of cyclic voltammetry (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S1), 3 exhibits

• one reversible oxidation wave and one quasi-reversible oxidation wave with half-wave potentials of 0.40 V and 0.88 V, respectively, versus ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc). The HOMO energy level is estimated from the first oxidation peak to be −5.5 eV [28], which is consistent with the DFT-calculated

Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of novel 9‑phenyl-9-phosphafluorene oxide derivatives

• Shuxian Qiu,
• Duan Dong,
• Jiahui Li,
• Huiting Wen,
• Jinpeng Li,
• Yu Yang,
• Shengxian Zhai and
• Xingyuan Gao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3299–3305, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.274

• * transitions associated with the conjugated system, while the band at around 340 nm is attributed to intramolecular charge transfer processes. The low-energy absorption bands of 7-t-Bu (λmax = 345 nm, Table 2) and 7-Cz-2 (λmax = 342 nm) are slightly redshifted compared to 7-H (λmax = 338 nm), and larger

• redshifts are observed for 7-Ph-1 (λmax = 354 nm) and 7-Ph-2 (λmax = 366 nm). In contrast to 7-H, 7-Br (λmax = 327 nm) and 7-Cz-1 (λmax = 316 nm) show a blueshift. With a stronger electron-donating ability than 7-Cz-1, 7-Cz-2 shows a lower energy level for the absorption band stemming from intramolecular

Efficient synthesis of fluorinated triphenylenes with enhanced arene–perfluoroarene interactions in columnar mesophases

• Yang Chen,
• Jiao He,
• Hang Lin,
• Hai-Feng Wang,
• Ping Hu,
• Bi-Qin Wang,
• Ke-Qing Zhao and
• Bertrand Donnio

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3263–3273, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.270

• spectra. Their LUMO electron density maps distribute across to the side arm for F1 (−1.88 eV; −1.78 eV for PH1) and to the other triphenylene core for the dimer G11 (−1.78 eV). The π-conjugation of excited states results in a difference of their HOMO and LUMO energy levels: the fluorine dimer G11

• possesses higher HOMO and LUMO energy levels than that of the monomer F1, with a smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap (3.92 eV for F1 versus 4.11 eV for PH1). The DFT results thus agree pretty well with the fluorescence spectra in solution: G66 shows a fluorescence peak at 470–500 nm, while F6 has peaks located

Non-covalent organocatalyzed enantioselective cyclization reactions of α,β-unsaturated imines

• Sergio Torres-Oya and
• Mercedes Zurro

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3221–3255, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.268

• nitrogen atom which is prone to interacting with hydrogen-bond donors or Brønsted acids decreasing the LUMO energy of the diene. This review article aims to give an overview of the non-covalent organocatalyzed cyclization reactions involving α,β-unsaturated imines. Although most of the cyclization

• organocatalyst acts as a Lewis base forming an enamine which raises the HOMO energy of the dienophile, while the thiourea moiety acts as a Lewis acid, lowering the LUMO level of the diene (Scheme 1). A confined transition state is formed providing a high enantiocontrol of the reaction. In 2016, Shi and co

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

• encouraged to further explore these computationally. For both pathways, a potential energy surface (PES) was used to generate an ‘initial guess’ for stationary and saddle point geometries (see also section 4.1 in Supporting Information File 1). The PES scan strongly indicated that the SN2 mechanistic

• proposal was operative, owing to its lower-energy barrier; however, the saddle point geometries identified at this low level of theory were not close enough to the true transition state geometries to meet convergence criteria. Thus, using the guidance of the PES scans, A, XB-2, and B were subjected to the

• was found at a relative energy of 10.1 kcal/mol, where the C–I–C bond angle is 178° with C–I bond lengths of 2.2 Å (I–CH2CF3) and 2.9 Å. The reaction coordinate diagram for path 1 showed a near barrierless equilibrium between halogen bond adducts XB-1 and XB-2, where XB-2 has a C–I–C bond angle of 86

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

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

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

• conducted at a concentration of 10 μM, with donepezil serving as a positive control. To measure their impact on cellular tau oligomerization, the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal intensity was quantified in a cellular tau FRET assay at the same 10 μM concentration, using MK-886, a known

Surprising acidity for the methylene of 1,3-indenocorannulenes?

• Shi Liu,
• Märt Lõkov,
• Sofja Tshepelevitsh,
• Ivo Leito,
• Kim K. Baldridge and
• Jay S. Siegel

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3144–3150, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.260

• ; Loschmidt group element; molecular graph; Introduction A classic textbook tetrad linking hydrocarbon acidity to aromatic stabilization energy comprises cyclopentadiene (CpH), indene (InH), fluorene (FlH), and diphenylmethane (DPMH) [1][2], with pKa values in DMSO equal to 18 [3], 20.1 [3], 22.6 [3], and

• 32.2 [4], respectively (Scheme 1) [5][6]. The reaction enthalpy for deprotonation of CpH is ca 20 kcal/mol less endothermic than DPMH and ca. 24–27 kcal/mol less endothermic than 1,4-pentadiene (PDH; pKa ≈ 35 in DMSO) [3], values strikingly similar to the resonance stabilization energy estimated for

• benzene [7][8]. Furthermore, the trend of pKa values for CpH, InH, and FlH correlates with the reduction of the aromatic stabilization energy for the anion across the series [1][2]. At first glance, this model supports the notion that the relative pKa values of cyclopentadienes embedded in polynuclear

Controlled oligomerization of [1.1.1]propellane through radical polarity matching: selective synthesis of SF₅- and CF₃SF₄-containing [2]staffanes

• Jón Atiba Buldt,
• Wang-Yeuk Kong,
• Yannick Kraemer,
• Masiel M. Belsuzarri,
• Ansh Hiten Patel,
• James C. Fettinger,
• Dean J. Tantillo and
• Cody Ross Pitts

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3134–3143, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.259

• nanotechnology [5], liquid crystal design [6][7][8][9][10], and the study of energy-transfer [11][12] or electron-transfer [13][14][15][16][17] processes. We also posit that lower-order [n]staffanes (i.e., n = 2 or 3) are potentially valuable C(sp3)-rich bioisosteres [18][19] that have been seemingly overlooked

• energy profile of the radical chain propagation sequence was computed at the PWPB95-D4/def2-QZVPP//PCM(Et2O)-ωB97X-D/def2-TZVP level of theory [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] (Figure 2). Following addition of an SF5 radical to 1 to form INT1, a Cl atom could be abstracted from SF5Cl via TS1 to form 4 or

• , alternatively, INT1 could be added to another equiv of 1 via TS2 to form INT2. Although formation of 4 is notably more thermodynamically favorable than INT2 (ΔΔG = −9.2 kcal/mol), a small difference in activation free energy is predicted (ΔΔG‡ = −1.4 kcal/mol). This, at least in part, provides an explanation as

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

• with porphyrins, the direct linkage between their pyrrole units leads to a more contracted cavity compared to that of porphyrins. Similar to calix[4]pyrroles, synthetic metallo- and free-base (metal-free) porphyrins find various applications in the fields of medicine, energy, catalysis, molecular

• second-sphere interactions with a multipoint hydrogen-bonding pattern enhance CO2 reduction in organic solvents, improving stability, facilitating proton transfer, reducing energy barriers, and increasing selectivity [20]. Apart from advances in synthetic methodologies [2][21][22][23], the exploration of

• to absorb significant amounts of visible light photons, which allows them to reach an excited state. The excited porphyrin molecule is likely to undergo energy transfer (ET; photosensitization) or single-electron transfer (SET; photoredox catalysis) to substrate molecules (Figure 13). In

Enantioselective regiospecific addition of propargyltrichlorosilane to aldehydes catalyzed by biisoquinoline N,N’-dioxide

• Noble Brako,
• Sreerag Moorkkannur Narayanan,
• Amber Burns,
• Layla Auter,
• Valentino Cesiliano,
• Rajeev Prabhakar and
• Norito Takenaka

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3069–3076, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.255

• ) which is 1.2 kcal/mol lower in energy than IN1. The IN1→IN2 transformation is driven by the redistribution of the negative charge on C1 in IN1. In particular, the Mulliken charge on C1 reduces from −0.77e to −0.66e and the charge on C3 increases from −0.43e to −0.55e and facilitate Coulombic interaction

• the two transformations. Studies directed toward a better understanding of possible transition-state structures and the design of new catalysts to improve the results are currently underway in our laboratories. A potential energy surface (PES) for the proposed mechanism for (a) isomerization of

Extension of the π-system of monoaryl-substituted norbornadienes with acetylene bridges: influence on the photochemical conversion and storage of light energy

• Robin Schulte,
• Dustin Schade,
• Thomas Paululat,
• Till J. B. Zähringer,
• Christoph Kerzig and
• Heiko Ihmels

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3061–3068, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.254

• Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10–14, 55128 Mainz, Germany 10.3762/bjoc.20.254 Abstract The photochromic norbornadiene/quadricyclane pair is a promising system for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage, with which solar energy may be converted, stored, and released as heat in one integral

• up to 8 h at room temperature. Furthermore, the norbornadienes were transformed quantitatively into their quadricyclane photoproducts by irradiation with green light (520 nm) in the presence of a photosensitizer. Keywords: light energy conversion; photochemistry; photochromism; quadricyclanes

• ; Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling; Introduction The application of sustainable energy storage and supply has become a very important issue both from an economic and ecological point of view. In particular, the global energy demand is continuously expanding because of the increasing population, the development of

Cyclodextrin-based rotaxanes for polymer materials: challenge on simultaneous realization of inexpensive production and defined structures

• Yosuke Akae

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3026–3049, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.252

• . Keywords: cyclodextrin; defined structure; precise synthesis; rotaxanes; stimuli-responsive material; Introduction Stimuli-responsive materials can satisfy the existing high demands on such materials owing to their multiple functionalities (e.g., for effective energy storage or as decomposables under mild

• ]rotaxane. In this case, the energy diagram of the deslipping reaction differs from those of the ones bearing a [2]rotaxane intermediate (Figure 9E). As revealed in this study, the CD-based size-complementary rotaxane exhibiting a simple framework (no ionic substituents nor deoxynucleotide) was obtained

• small thickness are used. Moreover, this polymer can dissolve in water owing to the hydrophilicity of the CD units. Based on the above method, a conjugative polymer containing triphenylamine- (TPA)-modified β-CD was reported (Figure 13B) [82]. In this system, the excitation energy and electron transfer

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

• , which is a rare approach for such fluorophores. Another rare phenomenon for push–pull molecules is dual-state emission (DSE) [45][46][47]. At the same time, the scope of applications of fluorophores exhibiting DSE is much wider. This is due to the fact that DSE molecules, after absorbing energy, are

• highest fluorescence efficiency of 53.4% was observed for the para-methyl derivative 1b. Solutions of stilbazoles 1 in DMSO were also characterized by large Stokes shift values, reaching 207 nm (5846 cm−1) and showing nonradiative loss of excitation energy. It should be noted that stilbazoles 1, in

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

The charge transport properties of dicyanomethylene-functionalised violanthrone derivatives

• Sondos A. J. Almahmoud,
• Joseph Cameron,
• Dylan Wilkinson,
• Michele Cariello,
• Claire Wilson,
• Alan A. Wiles,
• Peter J. Skabara and
• Graeme Cooke

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2921–2930, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.244

• potentially efficient and isotropic charge transport [12]. It is also evident that the presence of the two dicyanomethylene groups in compound 3 are responsible for lowering the energy of the two frontier molecular orbitals and for narrowing the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO. This is likely due to an

• enhanced push–pull effect in this molecule due to the presence of a stronger acceptor. Furthermore, the energy of the LUMO of compound 3 is comparable to reported PDI-based acceptors which have been used in OPVs with PCE > 7% [34]. Crystallographic study Needle-shape crystals of compound 3b suitable for

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

• the study. The results demonstrated that the diphenyliodonium triflate has a feasible energy barrier of 21.5 kcal/mol and can be readily converted into a stable iodonium thiolate species. This species can further undergo a C–S bond-forming reductive elimination, providing the sulfide product. As a

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

• luminescence upon exposure to gaseous H2S. To assess whether this observed behavior is consistent and potentially attributed to the energy levels of the Tb3+ ion, we conducted the gaseous studies with [Tb.1·3Cu]3+. Upon exposure to H2S gas using the established experimental setup, the [Tb.1·3Cu]3+ complex did

• proposed to function by Cu2+ sequestration. The remaining report is of a terbium(III) complex [Tb(DPA-N3)3]3− (Figure 7), which contains an aryl azide-functionalized ligand. In this system the azide functionality prohibits the energy transfer to the lanthanide ion, effectively quenching luminescence. In

• did with ([Eu(triazole-DPA)3·Cu]3+, however for the terbium(III) complexes, the electronic state of the ligand, [triazole-DPA]2− is altered, resulting in the energy gap of the ligand and the excited energy level of the Tb3+ ion being smaller. This would facilitate efficient back-energy transfer from

Synthesis and antimycotic activity of new derivatives of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines

• Dmitriy Yu. Vandyshev,
• Daria A. Mangusheva,
• Khidmet S. Shikhaliev,
• Kirill A. Scherbakov,
• Oleg N. Burov,
• Alexander D. Zagrebaev,
• Tatiana N. Khmelevskaya,
• Alexey S. Trenin and
• Fedor I. Zubkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2806–2817, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.236

• 2 and 3, the minimum energy paths (MEPs) of these processes were calculated. Quantum chemical DFT calculations were performed using the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) basis set and taking into account solvation effects using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Interactions of 1 with N-phenylmaleimide (2a

• and 7a are formed (Scheme 4). Although intermediate 7a has a lower activation energy (∆G = −0.23 kcal/mol), further recyclization processes are not possible due to the positive free energy change (∆G > 0). In this context, the formation of the final product is only possible to proceed via intermediate

• irreversible process, given that it is thermodynamically challenging to revert the formed target product 4a to the original starting substances or the corresponding intermediate 6a (∆G(4a→6a) = + 4.04 kcal/mol). Meanwhile, a minimal difference in the free energy of intermediates 6a and 7a may facilitate their

Mechanochemical difluoromethylations of ketones

• Jinbo Ke,
• Pit van Bonn and
• Carsten Bolm

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2799–2805, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.235

• absorption of mechanical energy and they are influenced by several factors, including the lack of solvation, changes in morphology and rheology of the reaction mixtures during the milling, and variations in concentration and dielectric environment. Consequently, an increased reactivity can be achieved

Access to optically active tetrafluoroethylenated amines based on [1,3]-proton shift reaction

• Yuta Kabumoto,
• Eiichiro Yoshimoto,
• Bing Xiaohuan,
• Masato Morita,
• Motohiro Yasui,
• Shigeyuki Yamada and
• Tsutomu Konno

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2776–2783, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.233

• transition state is not stabilized, leading to the increase of the activation energy of the reaction. As a result, the reaction does not proceed smoothly. The absolute configurations of product (S)-23c, (S)-23d, and (S)-23e were determined on the basis of their X-ray crystallographic analyses. The validity

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

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

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

• the 1O2 adduct of 4-oxo-TEMP (4-oxo-TEMPO) were observed in the dispersion of catC60-lip ([catC60] = 5 µM) in PBS(–) showing an evidence of energy transfer reaction by the photoexcited catC60 (Figure 5a(ii)). In the presence of electron donor (NADH) under photoirradiation, •OH generation was observed

• same time, unusually fast conversion of O2•– to •OH was also suggested in this system. The results above suggest that catC60-lip generated both types of ROS (1O2 and •OH) via energy transfer and electron transfer mechanisms. The present results are in line with previous studies of photoinduced ROS

5th International Symposium on Synthesis and Catalysis (ISySyCat2023)

• Anthony J. Burke and
• Elisabete P. Carreiro

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2704–2707, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.227

• extraordinary advances over the past 150 years. They are a crucial tool for the development of new molecules across a wide range of fields, including drug discovery, energy, materials science, and many more. The ability to design and create novel compounds through organic synthesis, aided by catalysis, is

• significantly impact the production of enhanced Nafion membranes, contributing to the development of more efficient decarbonized energy systems based on hydrogen technologies. The six triazinephosphonate derivatives bearing 4-aminophenyl or 4-hydroxyphenyl groups were obtained in very good yields through a

• fluorescence quantum yield, which is an important property for their potential application in the field of optoelectronics (particularly for energy and biological chemistry applications). In this thematic issue, Nieto et al. contributed a timely Review article on the chemical space of 2-phenethylamines