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

• the computational investigation, could not be isolated either – probably due to its high sensitivity to hydrolysis. However, a 2D 1H-15N NMR correlation spectrum showed no interactions of hydrogen nuclei in silicon-bound methyl groups and any of the nitrogens in the product. This led us to conclude

• hydrocyanation reaction of hydrazones, towards precursors of α-hydrazino acids. Model achiral catalyst 4, pre-formed by reaction of Ca(OiPr)2 and biphenyl phosphate 3, led to racemic product 2 in nearly full conversion in different reaction times, depending on the amount of catalyst used. Biphenyl phosphate 3

Copper-catalyzed domino cyclization of anilines and cyclobutanone oxime: a scalable and versatile route to spirotetrahydroquinoline derivatives

• Qingqing Jiang,
• Xinyi Lei,
• Pan Gao and
• Yu Yuan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 749–754, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.58

• demonstrated excellent compatibility with the protocol, affording the desired products 3ba–ea in good yields. However, the introduction of strong electron-withdrawing groups, such as trifluoromethoxy, ester, and acetyl, at the para-position of the benzene ring (1f–h) led to a noticeable decrease in the yields

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

• glycophotoswitches in their different isomeric states led to new insights into the role of ligand orientation in carbohydrate recognition. The experimental results were underpinned by molecular modeling. Keywords: azobenzene glycoconjugates; carbohydrate recognition; docking; FimH; orthogonal photoswitching

• (Scheme 2B). Photochromic properties Irradiation of the glycoazobenzene-functionalized mannosides 6αMan 3, 6βGlc 4, and 3αMan 5 with light of 365, 435, and 520 nm, respectively, led to three photostationary states (PSS) in each case of which the E/Z ratios were determined by integration of the anomeric

• the closed gate conformation of FimH led to binding energies of −70.01 kcal mol−1 for E-4 and −71.08 kcal mol−1 for E-5 versus −60.96 kcal mol−1 for Z-4 and −59.43 kcal mol−1 for Z-5. These calculation results correspond to the experimentally determined inhibitory potencies which are significantly

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

• , however, there was no complementary RNA-based tool with comparable live-cell-imaging properties. Based on the autocatalytically generated fluorophore 4-(p-hydroxybenzylidene)imidazolidin-5-one (HBI) in GFP, in vitro selection on derivatives of HBI led to the discovery of the first fluorogen-activating

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

• identified as optimal delivering a yield of alkylated complex of 60% (Table 1, entry 4). With DBU as base different solvents differing in polarity have been tested. At room temperature, acetonitrile proved best and increased the yield to 88% (Table 1, entry 11). Lowering the temperature to 0 °C led to a

• h), and the subsequent fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) protection with FmocOsu led to the formation of the desired fluorinated amino acids. Here, Fmoc-[2.3.5.6F]TfMePhe (2) was isolated in a yield of 67% and a good enantiomeric purity of 90% ee. Fmoc-bisTfMePhe (3) was obtained even in a

• and 97% de. Both alkylated Ni(II) complexes were then hydrolyzed under standard conditions (HCl/DME 60 °C, 2 h), and the subsequent fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) protection with FmocOsu led to the formation of the desired fluorinated amino acids. However, only one isomer could be isolated, requiring

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

• eponymous Tsuji–Trost reaction, they faced a significant limitation: poor regioselectivity with non-symmetrical allylic substrates 2. This constraint led to the predominant development of Pd-catalyzed methods using symmetric 1,3-disubstituted allylic substrates 1 that contain a leaving group in the allylic

• temperature led to a significant decrease in dr values, suggesting partial racemization. This observation highlights the importance of careful experimental handling of [RCu·ZnX2·L] species {X = Br, Cl; L = P(OEt)3}, where both temperature control and reaction time must be precisely managed to maintain

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

• observed (see Supporting Information File 1, page S3). Decrease in supporting electrolyte concentration led to a drop in yields (Table 1, entry 9 vs entry 8), whereas current density deviations from 12 mA/cm2 did not affect the outcome of 6a (see Supporting Information File 1, page S4). Interestingly

• F led to a drop in the pyrrolidine 6a yield due to the formation of a new side-product. We hypothesized that the side-product formation at increased amounts (>2.5 F) of passed charge results from undesired Shono oxidation of pyrrolidine 6a [10][11]. Indeed, CV studies of 6a revealed an irreversible

Semisynthetic derivatives of massarilactone D with cytotoxic and nematicidal activities

• Rémy B. Teponno,
• Sara R. Noumeur and
• Marc Stadler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 607–615, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.48

• exhibit significant antimicrobial or cytotoxic activities upon testing [16]. This led us to hypothesize that possible chemical modification might enhance its biological activity. Therefore, the present research work aimed to investigate whether structural modifications could improve the biological

• , 4.4 Hz) and H-4 (δH 4.38, dd, J = 4.3, 0.9 Hz, H-4), the trans-2-methyl-2-butenoyl moiety was placed at C-7. The above spectroscopic data combined to the analysis of 2D experiments led to the elucidation of the structure of compound 6 as massarilactone D 7-O-trans-2-methyl-2-butenoyl. The reaction of

• , as indicated by structure–activity relationship analysis. Conclusion In the present study, the use of various acylating reagents to modify massarilactone D introduces distinct functional groups, each with unique chemical properties. This approach led to the synthesis of seven previously undescribed

Study of the interaction of 2H-furo[3,2-b]pyran-2-ones with nitrogen-containing nucleophiles

• Constantine V. Milyutin,
• Andrey N. Komogortsev and
• Boris V. Lichitsky

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 556–563, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.44

• that, the use of 3-fold excess of amine 2a led to the same results. Apparently, the stability of salt 3a is connected with high acidity of the starting furanone 1a and its recovery is only possible under the action of strong acids (HCl, H2SO4). Further, we investigated the chemical behavior of

• isolation of intermediate salt 3a. Indeed, the reflux of starting compound 1a with amine 2a in AcOH for 24 h led to formation of product 4a with 62% yield. Using various furanones 1 and amines we attempted to synthesize analogues of compound 4a based on the above procedure. It was found that the presence of

• . So, reflux of the mixture of starting materials in AcOH for 24 h led to pyrazolone 8a in 37% yield (Table 1, entry 1). Note that increasing the process time didn’t affect on the observed result (Table 1, entry 2). Next, we tested the studied reaction applying various solvents and in all cases the

Deep-blue emitting 9,10-bis(perfluorobenzyl)anthracene

• Long K. San,
• Sebastian Balser,
• Brian J. Reeves,
• Tyler T. Clikeman,
• Yu-Sheng Chen,
• Steven H. Strauss and
• Olga V. Boltalina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 515–525, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.39

• organic base such as tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) or 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU) [28]. Our initial attempt to apply this method was as follows: A reaction mixture of 9,10-ANTH(Br)2, 10 equiv BnFI, and 10 equiv DBU dissolved in acetone was illuminated with a blue LED for 20 h (see

• ) were used as received. Instrumentation 19F (376 MHz) and 1H (400 MHz) NMR spectra were recorded using a Varian INOVA 400 instrument with a trace amount of C8H4F6 (δ(19F) = −66.35 ppm) added as the internal standard. UV–vis spectra were recorded using a Cary 500 UV–VIS–NIR. Emission spectra of the LED

• Schlenk flask was then placed in a metal container equipped with a blue LED strip (1.2 W, Tenmiro) at room temperature for 20 h. Afterwards, the reaction mixture was washed with a 10% solution of Na2S2O3 (2 × 10 mL), H2O (3 × 10 mL), and brine (1 × 10 mL) before being dried over MgSO4. All solvents were

Unprecedented visible light-initiated topochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition in a functionalized bimane dye

• Metodej Dvoracek,
• Brendan Twamley,
• Mathias O. Senge and
• Mikhail A. Filatov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 500–509, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.37

• shielding from light, and unavoidable light exposure during crystal selection, and the X-ray measurement itself. As an additional test, the compounds were prepared as NMR samples in DMSO-d6 and irradiated with 405 nm LED. Irradiation in the solution phase did not result in any dimerization; the respective

• crystals were then irradiated for variable periods of time using 405 nm LED (75 mW cm−2) in an Elegoo Mercury Plus Wash and Cure (turntable chamber). Samples were placed approximately 8 cm far from the light source. The average light power measured at this distance was 5 mW cm−2. During the irradiation

Organocatalytic kinetic resolution of 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds through a retro-Michael reaction

• James Guevara-Pulido,
• Fernando González-Pérez,
• José M. Andrés and
• Rafael Pedrosa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 473–482, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.34

• racemization when treated with inorganic bases [25], which had led us to check the equilibrium between Michael and the retro-Michael reaction (Scheme 1). These observations have prompted us to conduct further research into this reaction for potential applications in the kinetic resolution of these adducts. In

• additive (entries 10–13, Table 2), but none of the tests performed led to an improvement in enantioselectivity. We also studied the influence of the reaction temperature by performing two tests at 0 °C (entries 15 and 16, Table 2). We observed that the reaction occurs more slowly, and the enantiomeric

• excess reached is lower than at room temperature. Additionally, when the reaction mixture was stirred at −18 °C, no change was observed after 100 hours (entry 14, Table 2). These results led us to raise the reaction temperature to 31 °C (entries 17–20, Table 2). We observed that the retro-Michael

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

• for its high-energy input, automated operation, and reproducibility, making it ideal for larger-scale and more force-intensive reactions. Both LED strips and LED lamps are used as light sources in combination with transparent jars in PMMA, glass, or epoxy resins. It can achieve consistent results but

• automated and continuous mixing during irradiation, thus increasing the reproducibility and convenience of the process [67]. In particular, the authors found that the simultaneous irradiation using a low-pressure Hg lamp and grinding led to 97% 1H NMR yield of 2.3 in 24 h starting from 2.1 and 2.2, which

• oxidation of 1,2-diphenylethyne to benzil [71]. Thus, when a 1:2 mixture of 7.1 and 4-chlorothiophenol (7.2) was ground in the presence of eosin Y as the photocatalyst and anhydrous Na2SO4 as a bulking agent, benzil (7.3) was obtained in 43% GC yield under blue light irradiation (LED, 14.5 W). Isolation led

Electrochemical synthesis of cyclic biaryl λ³-bromanes from 2,2’-dibromobiphenyls

• Andrejs Savkins and
• Igors Sokolovs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 451–457, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.32

• −2 led to 60% λ3-bromane 1a degradation, suggesting that cationic 1a, formed on the anode, decomposes on the cathode. To avoid the undesired cathodic decomposition of 1a, the cathode and anode chambers were separated, and further experiments were performed in a divided cell. Gratifyingly, the change

New tandem Ugi/intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction based on vinylfuran and 1,3-butadienylfuran derivatives

• Yuriy I. Horak,
• Roman Z. Lytvyn,
• Andrii R. Vakhula,
• Yuriy V. Homza,
• Nazariy T. Pokhodylo and
• Mykola D. Obushak

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 444–450, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.31

• [11][12][13]. Advancements in one-pot syntheses, like combining the Ugi reaction with other methods [14][15][16][17][18], for example, the Huisgen cycloaddition, have led to the creation of unique [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives [19]. Tandem reactions are particularly valued for their atom

Beyond symmetric self-assembly and effective molarity: unlocking functional enzyme mimics with robust organic cages

• Keith G. Andrews

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 421–443, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.30

• popularization of dynamic covalent chemistry in the 1990s [251][252][253][254][255], macrocycle and cage synthesis using reversible reactions [256][257][258][259] like imine formation (Figure 7A) have led to advances in the synthesis of COFs [223][224] and discrete organic cages [260][261][262][263][264][265

Unraveling aromaticity: the dual worlds of pyrazole, pyrazoline, and 3D carborane

• Zahra Noori,
• Miquel Solà,
• Clara Viñas,
• Francesc Teixidor and
• Jordi Poater

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 412–420, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.29

• materials [28][29][30]. As a result, developing efficient methods for selectively introducing functional groups into carboranes has become a key area of research [29][31]. Moreover, replacing planar aryl rings in biologically active molecules with spherical carborane units has led to novel alternatives [32

Identification and removal of a cryptic impurity in pomalidomide-PEG based PROTAC

• Bingnan Wang,
• Yong Lu and
• Chuo Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 407–411, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.28

• develop a method to facilitate the elimination of this impurity. We first attempted scavenging 6 by solid-phase supported amines. Incubating a mixture of 3 and 6 with TentaGel S-NH2 in DMF led to a gradual decrease of 6 over four days. Whereas this method is applicable to removing 9 of different PEG-OH

The effect of neighbouring group participation and possible long range remote group participation in O-glycosylation

• Rituparna Das and
• Balaram Mukhopadhyay

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 369–406, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.27

• in the subsequent nucleophilic attack by the acceptor [137]. This α-glycosyl triflate was readily converted to its skew-boat conformation 62 which led to the attack of the glycosyl acceptor 64 from the β-face of the sugar pyranoside ring exclusively to form the 1,2-trans glycoside 65. Thus, the N

• glycoside in moderate 43% yield. However, a five-membered cyclic acetal 88 as the side product was obtained which led to the determination of the plausible mechanism involving participation of the alkoxymethyl group of the C-2 position (Scheme 15). Path A in Scheme 15 designates the expected participating

• -(phenylsulfanyl)ethyl moiety in the C-2 position led to the stereoselective formation of 1,2-cis glucoside and 1,2-cis galactoside in high yield by the formation of a quasi-stable anomeric sulphonium ion intermediate [150]. In continuation with the use of auxiliary protecting groups as the O-2 protection for

Antibiofilm and cytotoxic metabolites from the entomopathogenic fungus Samsoniella aurantia

• Rita Toshe,
• Syeda J. Khalid,
• Blondelle Matio Kemkuignou,
• Esteban Charria-Girón,
• Paul Eckhardt,
• Birthe Sandargo,
• Kunlapat Nuchthien,
• J. Jennifer Luangsa-ard,
• Till Opatz,
• Hedda Schrey,
• Sherif S. Ebada and
• Marc Stadler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 327–339, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.23

• solvent B from 30% to 100% over 85 minutes. Subsequently, it was maintained at 100% for 15 minutes. This purification protocol led to the isolation of 1 (9.1 mg, tR = 67 min), 3 (19.5 mg, tR = 81 min), and 5 (2.8 mg, tR = 89 min). For fraction 6 (489 mg), a gradient elution was applied starting from 50% B

Red light excitation: illuminating photocatalysis in a new spectrum

• Lucas Fortier,
• Corentin Lefebvre and
• Norbert Hoffmann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 296–326, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.22

• sacrificial reducing agents (Scheme 6), contrasting with traditional blue-light photocatalysis which led to substrate decomposition [33][34]. The axial ligands on the ruthenium phthalocyanin complex, particularly electron-deficient pyridyl groups, were found to influence the catalytic activity by stabilizing

• source at 660 nm led to a reduction in the isolated yield from 70% to 56%. Despite the full conversion of the starting material, the overall efficiency was hindered by the formation of side-products. Furthermore, various nucleophiles were found to be compatible with this transformation. In parallel the

Molecular diversity of the reactions of MBH carbonates of isatins and various nucleophiles

• Zi-Ying Xiao,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 286–295, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.21

• also led to the development of a synthetic protocol for the convenient synthesis of 30 diversely substituted oxindole derivatives. Single crystal structure of compound 5a. Single crystal structure of compound 5j. Single crystal structure of compound 6e. Single crystal structure of compound 7a. Single

Three-component reactions of conjugated dienes, CH acids and formaldehyde under diffusion mixing conditions

• Dmitry E. Shybanov,
• Maxim E. Kukushkin,
• Eugene V. Babaev,
• Nikolai V. Zyk and
• Elena K. Beloglazkina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 262–269, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.18

• (Table 1, entries 11 and 13). Apparently, an increase in the surface area of the reaction solution promoted more efficient absorption of CH2O molecules, which accelerated the condensation reaction. The reaction of formaldehyde and diketone 1 in chloroform and acetonitrile predominantly led to diketo

• 9 in toluene for 7 h led to the formation of an equilibrium mixture of these compounds in a ratio of ≈2:1 (Scheme 5). We propose that the reversible transformation of 8 to 9 proceeded via the intermediate formation of zwitterion 21, in which the charges were stabilized by mesomeric effects under

• participation of the C=C bond. Apparently, the ratio of the adducts of the Diels–Alder (i.e., I) and the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction (i.e., II) was strongly influenced by steric factors; a decreased steric hindrance in the initial CH acid derivatives led to a more selective formation of the structures I. This

Synthesis of disulfides and 3-sulfenylchromones from sodium sulfinates catalyzed by TBAI

• Zhenlei Zhang,
• Ying Wang,
• Xingxing Pan,
• Manqi Zhang,
• Wei Zhao,
• Meng Li and
• Hao Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 253–261, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.17

• . For example, electron-donating groups (Me, tert-butyl, MeO, naphthyl) and electron-withdrawing groups (F, Cl, Br) attached to the benzene ring led to products 2a–i with yields ranging from 60% to 89%. Interestingly, products with strong electron-withdrawing substituents were obtained in moderate

• intermediate in the reaction. When the asymmetric thiosulfonate was used as the substrate, unexpectedly a mixture of three disulfide ethers rather than a single disulfide was obtained under the standard reaction conditions (Scheme 5, reaction 1), which led us to conclude that the reaction might be a process in

Effect of substitution position of aryl groups on the thermal back reactivity of aza-diarylethene photoswitches and prediction by density functional theory

• Misato Suganuma,
• Daichi Kitagawa,
• Shota Hamatani and
• Seiya Kobatake

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 242–252, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.16

• recorded using a JASCO V-560 absorption spectrometer or an Ocean Optics FLAME-S multichannel analyzer. Photoirradiation (365 nm) to solution samples was carried out using a 200 W mercury–xenon lamp (MORITEX MSU-6) with a band-pass filter or a 365 nm UV-LED lamp (Keyence UV-400) as a light source. The