Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-diones by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination reactions

• Ruben Manuel Figueira de Abreu,
• Robin Tiedemann,
• Peter Ehlers and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1010–1017, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.82

• . Keywords: alkynes; catalysis; cyclizations; domino reactions; heterocycles; Introduction Pyrimidines and purines are one of the most important heterocyclic compounds with prevalent biological functions. Both are found in nucleosides and their corresponding polymeric DNA and RNA, and hence are vital for

• procedure [25], 5-bromo-6-chloro-1,3-dimethyluracil (2) in 52% yield (Scheme 1). We previously reported Sonogashira reactions of the latter with various alkynes to give products 3a–d,g,h [26][27]. In this work, we extended the scope and prepared novel derivatives 3e and 3f. A nearly quantitative yield was

Recent total synthesis of natural products leveraging a strategy of enamide cyclization

• Chun-Yu Mi,
• Jia-Yuan Zhai and
• Xiao-Ming Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 999–1009, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.81

• incorporated into cyclization reactions. The iminium species generated from enamides via nucleophilic addition or substitution are capable of engaging in further electrophilic additions or isomerization processes. Exploiting the multiple reactivities of enamides facilitates the development of diverse

• cyclization modes that provide entries to various N-heterocycles, some of which serve as key structural motifs in natural alkaloids. This review highlights recent advancements in enamide-based cyclization reactions, including enamide–alkyne cycloisomerization, [3 + 2] annulation, and polycyclization, with a

• particular emphasis on their pivotal role as a strategy in the total synthesis of natural products. Keywords: alkaloid; cyclization; enamide; natural product; total synthesis; Introduction The use of enamines as surrogates for enols in nucleophilic reactions has been well-documented for decades since their

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

• precise C–C and C–N cross-coupling reactions only at the site of the iodine – donors were attached to TTM by radical-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution SRN1. The leaving group is the para-chlorine atom, of which a TTM molecule has three. It is therefore less than surprising that during this SRN1

Studies on the syntheses of β-carboline alkaloids brevicarine and brevicolline

• Benedek Batizi,
• Patrik Pollák,
• András Dancsó,
• Péter Keglevich,
• Gyula Simig,
• Balázs Volk and
• Mátyás Milen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 955–963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.79

• position 4 of β-carboline by cross-coupling reactions. Thanks to its scalability, this novel approach ensures a broad accessibility to the target compound for potential pharmacological measurements. Using detailed NMR studies, the NMR signals have been assigned for both the base and its dihydrochloride

• reactions: reduction of ring A of the β-carboline skeleton or trifluoroethylation of the pyrrole moiety occurred, leading to interesting and potentially useful derivatives. Keywords: alkaloid; β-carboline; Carex brevicollis DC; cross-coupling reaction; trifluoroethylation; Introduction Carex brevicollis

• , versatile key triflate intermediate 3, which allowed the introduction of substituents attached by a C–C bond to position 4 of the β-carboline scaffold by cross-coupling reactions. Sonogashira reaction of compound 3 with N-(3-butynyl)phthalimide (4) led to coupled compound 5. Cleavage of the phthalimide

Harnessing tethered nitreniums for diastereoselective amino-sulfonoxylation of alkenes

• Shyam Sathyamoorthi,
• Appasaheb K. Nirpal,
• Dnyaneshwar A. Gorve and
• Steven P. Kelley

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 947–954, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.78

• Abstract We present the first examples of alkene amino-sulfonoxylation reactions that leverage the unique reactivity of carbamate tethered N-alkoxy nitrenium ions. In almost all cases examined, the reactions deliver product with exquisite regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. The protocols followed

• : alkene; amino-sulfonoxylation; metal-free; tethered nitrenium; Introduction Our laboratory has a programmatic focus on the development of metal-free oxidation reactions that avoid the use of toxic reagents such as osmium and chromium [1][2][3]. In line with this agenda, we recently explored a mild amino

• examples of alkene amino-hydroxylation reactions mediated by N-alkoxy nitreniums deliver amino-trifluoroacetate products (Scheme 1) [6]. Here, we describe the first examples of amino-sulfonoxylation reactions of alkenes, which make use of carbamate tethered N-alkoxy nitrenium ions. Results and Discussion

Study of tribenzo[b,d,f]azepine as donor in D–A photocatalysts

• Katy Medrano-Uribe,
• Jorge Humbrías-Martín and
• Luca Dell’Amico

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 935–944, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.76

• power (E*red up to 1.5 V) can be classified as a bimodal photocatalyst. This type of molecule is capable of driving both oxidative and reductive reactions, thereby offering significant versatility to achieve photocatalytic transformations. To our delight, molecule 5a possesses a promising E*ox =−1.89 V

• photoredox properties with TBA, its analog 5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine (IMD), and common nitrogen donors. The excited state redox potentials of these compounds suggest their suitability for challenging photocatalytic reactions through oxidative and reducing quenching cycles. TBA showed a well-balanced redox window

• negatively impact photocatalytic activity, showing similar results in some of the benchmark reactions carried out during this analysis. Our findings suggest that antiaromatic compounds like TBA could replace traditional nitrogen donors in PCs, offering good redox potentials and competitive photophysical

Silver(I) triflate-catalyzed post-Ugi synthesis of pyrazolodiazepines

• Muhammad Hasan,
• Anatoly A. Peshkov,
• Syed Anis Ali Shah,
• Andrey Belyaev,
• Chang-Keun Lim,
• Shunyi Wang and
• Vsevolod A. Peshkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 915–925, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.74

• procedures and harsh reaction conditions, resulting in limited substituent and scaffold diversity [18][19]. In this regard, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have gained increasing attention for their operational simplicity, efficiency, robustness, atom economy, and potential for diversity-oriented synthesis

• , propiolic acids 8a–d, and isocyanides 4a–e. By conducting the reactions in methanol at 70 °C, we obtained the desired Ugi adducts 15a–x in fair to good yields of 26–72% allowing for the variation of substituents across all components of the U4CR (Scheme 2). Notably, the Ugi reaction toward substrate 15a

• reduction with LiAlH₄, which led to a further decrease in the degree of unsaturation of the pyrazolodiazepine core, while the more sterically hindered exocyclic amide moiety remained intact. However, both reactions were accompanied by partial epimerization, and careful kinetic control was therefore required

Recent advances in controllable/divergent synthesis

• Jilei Cao,
• Leiyang Bai and
• Xuefeng Jiang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 890–914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.73

• alkyldiamines proceeded with solvent-independent regioselectivity, exclusively furnished [2 + 2] macrocyclic adducts. Strikingly, when 37 was combined with 2,2’-oxybis(ethylamine) (38), the reaction pathway exhibited pronounced solvent dependency. Reactions in methanol, ethanol, or chloroform selectively

• -García and Fernández-Rodríguez reported on the practicality of metal-free BCl3-catalyzed borylation cyclization reactions in synthesis (Scheme 16) [45]. Biphenyl-embedded 1,3,5-trienes-7-yne compounds 58 react with BCl3 under catalyst-free and additive-free conditions to form novel polycyclic boronated

• (such as indole substrates), Int-79 is more stable at −78 °C, favoring the formation of the mono-insertion product 86. In 2022, Wu and colleagues reported a novel methodology for constructing α-ketoamides 90 or 92 and amides 91 through copper-catalyzed dicarbonylation and monocarbonylation reactions

Data accessibility in the chemical sciences: an analysis of recent practice in organic chemistry journals

• Sally Bloodworth,
• Cerys Willoughby and
• Simon J. Coles

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 864–876, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.70

• for researchers to report the outcomes of low/no-yielding reactions that describe a broad chemical space [31][75]. Mandates for deposition, standardized data formats, and centralized repositories are all necessary to enable compliance with FAIR principles [76]. AI is having a major impact on many

Light-enabled intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition via photoactivation of simple alkenylboronic esters

• Lewis McGhie,
• Hannah M. Kortman,
• Jenna Rumpf,
• Peter H. Seeberger and
• John J. Molloy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 854–863, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.69

• , and control reactions support sensitization, enabling an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition to be realized accessing 3D bicyclic fragments containing a boron handle. Keywords: boron; catalysis; [2 + 2] cycloaddition; energy transfer; photochemistry; Introduction The strategic use of a photon to

• identify a suitable catalyst and boron residue, while control reactions and mechanistic studies support the proposed sensitization. The platform enables direct access to mono- and vicinal cyclobutylboronic esters that could be effectively derivatized to demonstrate their potential in synthesis. Results and

• process (Figure 2B) [19]. In a bid to translate sensitization reaction probes to meaningful synthetic transformations, conventional intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions were initially trialled (Figure 3A). Preliminary reactions using styrene or methyl acrylate were unsuccessful, with no [2 + 2

Chitosan-supported CuI-catalyzed cascade reaction of 2-halobenzoic acids and amidines for the synthesis of quinazolinones

• Xuhong Zhao,
• Weishuang Li,
• Mengli Yang,
• Bojie Li,
• Yaoyao Zhang,
• Lizhen Huang and
• Lei Zhu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 839–844, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.67

• in organic transformations [22][23][24], we intended to investigate the use of chitosan-supported copper as a catalyst for the synthesis of quinazolinones from 2-halobenzoic acids and amidines under mild reaction conditions (Scheme 1c). Results and Discussion The initial reactions commenced with 2

• obtained (Table 1, entry 19). With the optimized conditions in hand, we explored the substrate scope of the CS@CuI-catalyzed cascade reactions of 2-halobenzoic acids (including 2-iodobenzoic acid and 2-bromobenzoic acid) with amidines (Scheme 2). Initially, when the amidine substituent (R2) is a methyl

• group, we investigated the reactions with various substituted 2-halobenzoic acids. The reactivity of 2-iodobenzoic acid derivatives (3a–d, 90−96% yields) was higher than that of 2-bromobenzoic acid derivatives (3a–d, 57−73% yields), the electronic properties of the substituents on the benzene ring had

Synthesis and photoinduced switching properties of C₇-heteroatom containing push–pull norbornadiene derivatives

• Daniel Krappmann and
• Andreas Hirsch

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 807–816, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.64

• synthesized (Scheme 1, bottom). In contrast to the previously synthesized large library carbon-based NBDs [40], only a few heterocyclic derivatives were successfully isolated. During the monitoring of additional reactions attempting to reproduce the literature scope, in most cases traces of new NBD species

Regioselective formal hydrocyanation of allenes: synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated nitriles with α-all-carbon quaternary centers

• Seeun Lim,
• Teresa Kim and
• Yunmi Lee

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 800–806, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.63

• -system configuration promotes selective functionalization, enabling the synthesis of various complex products through a single transformation [17][18][19]. Therefore, allenes have become versatile intermediates in numerous transition-metal-catalyzed reactions [20][21]. Despite extensive studies on the

• scope for the formal hydrocyanation with 1,1-disubstituted and 1,1,3-trisubstituted allenes was examined (Scheme 3). All reactions were performed in the presence of 5 mol % IPrCuCl to generate the allylaluminum reagents in situ, followed by cyanation at room temperature for 30 min. This method

• converted to the desired nitrile 5g in high yield. Gram-scale reactions were conducted using allenes to demonstrate the practical applicability of this hydrocyanation method (Scheme 5). Allene 1q (1.04 g, 7.2 mmol) and allene 4b (1.08 g, 6.0 mmol) were effectively transformed into nitrile products 3q and 5b

Recent advances in the electrochemical synthesis of organophosphorus compounds

• Babak Kaboudin,
• Milad Behroozi,
• Sepideh Sadighi and
• Fatemeh Asgharzadeh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 770–797, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.61

• efficiency of reactions [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Organophosphorous compounds are essential materials with broad applications in medicinal chemistry, synthesis, agriculture, as ligands, and intermediates to prepare complex compounds. Due to their importance, scientists have introduced many studies in

• generates an electric current. Some of its applications include batteries (e.g., lithium-ion batteries) and fuel cells. These cells are usually in a divided state. Electrolytic cell These cells require an external voltage to drive chemical reactions. They use electrical energy to carry out a non-spontaneous

• reduction occur in separate compartments, separated by a diaphragm or salt bridge, to prevent reactant mixing and improve efficiency (e.g., Daniel cell). However, in undivided cells, both reactions occur in a single compartment without separation, resulting in a more straightforward design but potentially

New advances in asymmetric organocatalysis II

• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 766–769, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.60

• cycloaddition reactions [1][2][3][4]. The history of scientific discoveries, however, is rarely defined by single specific dates that can unambiguously be connected to the discoveries. Instead, the chronology often seems to be quite convoluted but also ultimately more interesting, as can also be seen for

• -catalyzed reactions and biocatalysis. In the past 25 years, organocatalysis has grown rapidly into a broad area of research, with industrial applications now being developed [16]. The usefulness of any idea or methodology is ultimately often measured by its applications. The robustness, reliability, as well

• organocatalytic cycloaddition reactions of unsaturated imines. A broad variety of activation modes, as well as catalyst structures, was covered and found to be useful in affording a diverse array of chiral N-heterocycles [27]. In my group, we recently became interested in atroposelective catalytic syntheses

Development and mechanistic studies of calcium–BINOL phosphate-catalyzed hydrocyanation of hydrazones

• Carola Tortora,
• Christian A. Fischer,
• Sascha Kohlbauer,
• Alexandru Zamfir,
• Gerd M. Ballmann,
• Jürgen Pahl,
• Sjoerd Harder and
• Svetlana B. Tsogoeva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 755–765, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.59

• through calcium catalysis [8][9][10]. Asymmetric synthesis has also been achieved via, e.g., 1,4-addition and [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 3-tetrasubstituted oxindoles with a calcium Pybox catalyst [11][12], or through enantioselective Friedel–Crafts and carbonyl–ene reactions [13]. Since the pioneering

• in elucidating the mechanism by which these bifunctional compounds act as powerful catalysts [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Since Ishihara disclosed the crucial role of calcium in many purportedly purely organocatalytic BINOL phosphate-catalyzed reactions [30][31], several asymmetric synthesis

• that might similarly occur also in related addition reactions of alkenes, for example. After 11E had reacted with TMSCN, adduct 13 forms, 3.8 kcal·mol−1 more stable than the competing unreactive adduct obtained from "Z" conformation. Outside from the catalytic cycle, 12 could be further hydrolyzed in a

Orthogonal photoswitching of heterobivalent azobenzene glycoclusters: the effect of glycoligand orientation in bacterial adhesion

• Leon M. Friedrich and
• Thisbe K. Lindhorst

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 736–748, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.57

• 3αMan 5, first order reactions were assumed with the rate constants k5, k7, and k6 (Figure 2C). In order to determine the half-lifes τ1/2 and activation energies Ea of the photoswitching units comprised in the homobivalent glycocluster 6αMan3αMan 2, the decay of the metastable ZZ isomer to the

Synthesis of HBC fluorophores with an electrophilic handle for covalent attachment to Pepper RNA

• Raphael Bereiter and
• Ronald Micura

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 727–735, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.56

• 14 (Figure 2). Synthesis of a bifunctional Pepper dye Encouraged by the efficient attachment of the bromo- and mesyloxypropyl-modified HBC fluorophores to the Pepper aptamer, we generated a bifunctional HBC ligand with a second handle that is available for bioorthogonal reactions. The original

Origami with small molecules: exploiting the C–F bond as a conformational tool

• Patrick Ryan,
• Ramsha Iftikhar and
• Luke Hunter

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 680–716, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.54

• angle widening in gem-difluoroalkanes is seen in the rates of the ring-closing methathesis reactions of the dienes 8 and 9 (Figure 3) [25]. The fluorinated substrate 9 cyclises much more efficiently than the non-fluorinated substrate 8, and this was attributed to a thermodynamic effect, i.e., a more

• -membered ring of pyranoses. However, it must be remembered that pyranoses are reactive molecules that can undergo, e.g., glycosylation, and it emerges that fluorine can play a much more significant conformational role during the dynamics of such chemical reactions [125][126][127][128][129][130

• ]. Glycosylation reactions (e.g., 63 → 65 and 64 → 66, Figure 9) proceed via an oxocarbenium intermediate. If fluorine is located at C-2, an electrostatic attraction might be expected between the partially negative fluorine and the positively charged C=O+ moiety, and this interaction would favour one of the half

Photochemically assisted synthesis of phenacenes fluorinated at the terminal benzene rings and their electronic spectra

• Yuuki Ishii,
• Minoru Yamaji,
• Fumito Tani,
• Kenta Goto,
• Yoshihiro Kubozono and
• Hideki Okamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 670–679, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.53

• compounds, F8PIC and F8FUL, were obtained through the Wittig-reaction and Mallory-photoreaction sequence (Scheme 2). Thus, reactions between phosphonium salt 5 and specific aldehydes, 10 and 13, followed by photolysis in the presence of I2 and O2, respectively, afforded F8PIC (57%) and F8FUL (52%). F87PHEN

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated derivatives of aromatic and γ-branched amino acids via a chiral Ni(II) complex

• Maurizio Iannuzzi,
• Thomas Hohmann,
• Michael Dyrks,
• Kilian Haoues,
• Katarzyna Salamon-Krokosz and
• Beate Koksch

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 659–669, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.52

• fluorinated amino acids that can be synthesized from a single starting material is a unique feature of this method, making it an important cornerstone of fluoropeptide chemistry. Experimental General information Air- and hydrolysis-sensitive reactions were carried out under exclusion of air and water in

• Schlenk vessels at a Schlenk unit/oil pump vacuum under nitrogen atmosphere. The stated reaction temperatures are the respective values of the silicone oil heating bath. All reactions were stirred with an electric magnetic stirrer. 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR spectra were measured at room temperature with a JEOL

Recent advances in allylation of chiral secondary alkylcopper species

• Minjae Kim,
• Gwanggyun Kim,
• Doyoon Kim,
• Jun Hee Lee and
• Seung Hwan Cho

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 639–658, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.51

• attention due to their unique properties in stereoselective allylic substitution. This review highlights recent advances in copper-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions with chiral secondary alkylcopper species, encompassing several key strategies for their generation: stereospecific

• substitution reactions began to develop with the groundbreaking work of Takeuchi and Kashio, and subsequent research has revealed that iridium catalysts behave quite differently from their palladium counterparts [18]. The most notable distinction lies in their contrasting regioselectivity patterns. Palladium

• -catalyzed allylic substitution reactions [20]. To address these limitations, copper-catalyzed processes have emerged as a promising alternative. Copper-catalyzed allylic substitutions are distinguished by their unique inner-sphere mechanistic pathway, which enables the incorporation of hard, non-stabilized

Entry to 2-aminoprolines via electrochemical decarboxylative amidation of N‑acetylamino malonic acid monoesters

• Olesja Koleda,
• Janis Sadauskis,
• Darja Antonenko,
• Edvards Janis Treijs,
• Raivis Davis Steberis and
• Edgars Suna

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 630–638, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.50

• [7][8] (Figure 2, reactions 1 and 2, respectively). Results and Discussion N-Acetylamino malonic acid monoester 9a possessing a tosyl-protected tethered amine was selected as a model substrate for the development of the intramolecular amidation under Hofer–Moest conditions. The acid 9a was prepared

• was not extracted from background-corrected voltammograms. All CV graphs are plotted using IUPAC polarographic convention. Selected examples of α,α-disubstituted cyclic amino acids in drug design. Electrochemical decarboxylative amination reactions. A) Cyclic voltammograms of 6a and 9a at 3 mM and 6

Photocatalyzed elaboration of antibody-based bioconjugates

• Marine Le Stum,
• Eugénie Romero and
• Gary A. Molander

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 616–629, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.49

• stability, and/or a shorter ADC half-life [14]. Optimization of the drug/antibody ratio (DAR) and payload distribution/location thus becomes significant for ideal ADC design. Given the complexity of biological macromolecules, there are inherent limitations in terms of the types of reactions that can be used

• to modify them. Reactions must be carried out at or near ambient temperatures and near-neutral pH. Aqueous media is often required to solubilize the substrates and/or to prevent denaturation, and reactions are normally carried out under very dilute (micromolar) conditions. As importantly, the highly

• covalent bioconjugation. Effective bioconjugation has been dramatically facilitated by the development of robust bioorthogonal reactions, which has revolutionized the field of chemical biology [17]. A bioorthogonal reactive group can be introduced into proteins via direct chemical coupling on specific

Total synthesis of (±)-simonsol C using dearomatization as key reaction under acidic conditions

• Xiao-Yang Bi,
• Xiao-Shuai Yang,
• Shan-Shan Chen,
• Jia-Jun Sui,
• Zhao-Nan Cai,
• Yong-Ming Chuan and
• Hong-Bo Qin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 601–606, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.47

• ] and has been used in syntheses of natural products containing aryl quaternary carbon centers [9][10]. Unlike the intramolecular alkylation strategy of a phenol derivative, which can only be applied in basic dearomatization reactions, our approach using an α-iodophenol ether as precursor of the

• two allyl groups into the product, thus avoiding the challenges associated with allyl formation reactions. The chosen synthetic route towards (±)-simonsol C is shown in Scheme 3. Starting with magnolol (11), one of the phenol groups was selectively protected by controlling the equivalents of MOMCl and

• were optimized to achieve product 20 with 85% yield, minimizing potential side reactions. The subsequent dearomatization step is crucial for the construction of the cyclohexadienone unit. Oxidation of compound 20 with PIDA in trifluoroethanol, the original phenol was converted into a quinone moiety