An Fe(II)-catalyzed synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine] derivatives

• Elizaveta V. Gradova,
• Nikita A. Ozhegov,
• Roman O. Shcherbakov,
• Alexander G. Tkachenko,
• Larisa Y. Nesterova,
• Elena Y. Mendogralo and
• Maxim G. Uchuskin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2383–2388, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.183

• yield substituted spiropyrrolidines (Scheme 1, path b) [9]. Additionally, an organocatalytic, enantioselective Michael addition/cyclization sequence of 3-aminooxindole Schiff bases with terminal vinyl ketones, catalyzed by a cinchona-derived base, has been reported to afford chiral spiroindolylpyrroles

Rotaxanes with integrated photoswitches: design principles, functional behavior, and emerging applications

• Jullyane Emi Matsushima,
• Khushbu,
• Zuliah Abdulsalam,
• Udyogi Navodya Kulathilaka Conthagamage and
• Víctor García-López

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2345–2366, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.179

• Michael addition taking place at the active site (C=C−C=N+) in the merocyanine unit in the presence of sulfite ions, resulting in color changes from red to green. This work represents a substantial advancement in the development of rotaxane-based fluorescent probes, providing highly sensitive and

Recent advances in Norrish–Yang cyclization and dicarbonyl photoredox reactions for natural product synthesis

• Peng-Xi Luo,
• Jin-Xuan Yang,
• Shao-Min Fu and
• Bo Liu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2315–2333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.177

• bonds of 83 (Scheme 10). Building block 76 was first obtained in 18% overall yield from β-ketoester 74 through a sequence involving Michael addition, decarboxylation, nitrile hydration, and cyclization under vacuum. Aminoketal 81 – a direct precursor to the oxygen-sensitive α,β-unsaturated iminium 81a

Halogenated butyrolactones from the biomass-derived synthon levoglucosenone

• Johannes Puschnig,
• Martyn Jevric and
• Ben W. Greatrex

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2297–2301, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.175

• morpholine via an aza-Michael addition and condensation (Scheme 3). It was envisaged that the β-amino group could act as a stable functional group resulting in Baylis–Hillman-like reactivity. An extensive survey of reaction conditions using Selectfluor and N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as the sources of

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

• toward bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane frameworks via geminal carbo-functionalization of 3-siloxy-1,3-dien-7-ynes (Scheme 21) [32]. A stereoselective sequence initiated by 5-exo-dig cyclization and Michael addition under cationic gold catalysis to generate strained bicyclic gold-carbene complex 101, which was

• pathway-controlled approach using tryptamine ynamides bearing Michael acceptor moieties as substrates (Scheme 27) [38][39]. Under strong Brønsted acid catalysis, protonation of the carbonyl group was achieved, which facilitated a Michael addition between the electron-rich indole C3-position and the

• activated ynamide. This sequence resulted in the formation of spiroindoleninium intermediate 130 (Scheme 27, path a). Subsequent intramolecular Mannich cyclization proceeded, yielding the 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole derivatives 131. When silica gel was utilized as the catalytic medium, the same Michael

Electrochemical cyclization of alkynes to construct five-membered nitrogen-heterocyclic rings

• Lifen Peng,
• Ting Wang,
• Zhiwen Yuan,
• Bin Li,
• Zilong Tang,
• Xirong Liu,
• Hui Li,
• Guofang Jiang,
• Chunling Zeng,
• Henry N. C. Wong and
• Xiao-Shui Peng

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2173–2201, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.166

• benzamides with terminal alkynes, 5-exo-dig aza-cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzamides as well as reductive cascade annulation of o-alkynylbenzamides. Pyrroles and imidazoles were formed efficiently via electrochemical annulation of alkynes with enamides and tandem Michael addition/azidation/cyclization of

• electricity as a sustainable and green oxidant, noble metal catalyst (Rh) was required to achieve reasonable yields. An electrochemical synthesis of imidazoles through tandem Michael addition/azidation/intramolecular cyclization of alkynes, amines and azides was realized by Chen in 2022 (Scheme 17) [267

• -nitrophenylacetylene. Electrochemical annulation of alkynyl enaminones. Electrochemical annulation of alkyne and enamide. Electrochemical tandem Michael addition/azidation/cyclization. Electrochemical [3 + 2] cyclization of heteroarylamines. Electrochemical CuAAC to access 1,2,3-triazole. About the Authors. Funding

Bioinspired total syntheses of natural products: a personal adventure

• Zhengyi Qin,
• Yuting Yang,
• Nuran Yan,
• Xinyu Liang,
• Zhiyu Zhang,
• Yaxuan Duan,
• Huilin Li and
• Xuegong She

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2048–2061, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.160

• benzylic oxidation to generate a para-quinone methide (pQM) intermediate. Using fusarentin 6-methyl ether as an example, pQM intermediate 10 would be generated. The C10 alcohol should successively undergo an oxa-Michael addition reaction to close the THF ring, providing 7-O-demethylmonocerin. Similarly

• , monocerin and 12-hydroxymonocerin were presumably generated from their corresponding precursors through similar oxidation and oxa-Michael addition reactions. Given the fact that quinone methides served as a powerful platform for the development of rich useful organic transformations, especially, through

• unreacted, which released the secondary alcohol, followed by BCl3-promoted selective cleavage of the isopropyl and one methyl protection ultimately furnished thenatural product fusarentin 6-methyl ether. With fusarentin 6-methyl ether in hand, we explored the bioinspired oxidation/oxa-Michael addition. This

General method for the synthesis of enaminones via photocatalysis

• Paula Pérez-Ramos,
• Raquel G. Soengas and
• Humberto Rodríguez-Solla

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1535–1543, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.116

• the reactivity of unsaturated esters towards an aza-Michael addition is the use of transition metal complexes as catalysts/promoters [40][41][42]. Considering this background, we reasoned that Ni(II) could be a suitable catalyst for the amination of unsaturated systems. Initial investigations were

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

• moderate to good yields of the spirocycle. The reaction is assumed to proceed through a Michael addition followed by Williamson etherification of the resulting γ-hydroxyselenone 12. In 2022, Kleij et al. reported a domino synthesis of bicyclic 3,5-anhydrofuranoses 15 using easily accessible bis-epoxy

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

• range of functionalized polyolefins, showcasing the applicability of this xanthylated polyolefin in various reactions, including trifluoromethylthiolation, polymer grafting, Michael addition, and epoxide opening. Amidyl radical from N–X bond cleavage Direct halogenation of C–H bonds is of significant

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

Pd-Catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination with isatin using a P,olefin-type chiral ligand with C–N bond axial chirality

• Natsume Akimoto,
• Kaho Takaya,
• Yoshio Kasashima,
• Kohei Watanabe,
• Yasushi Yoshida and
• Takashi Mino

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1018–1023, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.83

• synthesis of spirocyclic compounds [1][2][3]. The nucleophilicity of isatin at the nitrogen atom allows it to participate in reactions such as alkylation [4], arylation [5], and aza-Michael addition [6][7][8]. However, the products obtained from these reactions are primarily achiral or racemic, and only a

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

• at C10 was then introduced via a Michael addition (MeMgBr, CuI) to afford 22 in a yield of 65% (4:1 dr at C10). Initial attempts on the carbonyl 1,2-transposition protocol reported by Dong and co-workers were ineffective [45], leading to premature hydride termination and the formation of alkene 23

New advances in asymmetric organocatalysis II

• Radovan Šebesta

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

• describes the enantioselective Michael addition of pyrazoline-5-ones to α,β-unsaturated ketones. The enantioselectivity and chemical efficiency of this transformation were achieved with a cinchona-alkaloid-derived primary-amine–Brønsted acid composite [22]. A good demonstration of how organocatalysis

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

• acidic conditions as key step to construct an aryl-containing quaternary center. The 6/5/6 benzofuran unit was formed through reductive elimination with Zn/AcOH and a spontaneous oxy-Michael addition. This synthesis consists of 8 steps and achieves an overall yield of 13%, making it the shortest known

• construct the aryl and allyl-containing quaternary center, and a simultaneous phenol-initiated oxy-Michael addition to afford the benzofuran unit. This synthesis took 9 steps and achieved an overall yield of 13%. Also in 2024, the Denton group reported another efficient way to access the 6/5/6 benzofuran

• scaffold of simonsol C, utilizing an alkaline dearomatization as the key reaction, followed by a functional-group-selective Wittig reaction and concurrent oxy-Michael addition [6]. A bromophenol acetal was used in the intramolecular alkylative dearomatization, which was first reported by Magnus et al. [8

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

• organometallic catalysis [15], enzymatic catalysis [16], aminocatalysis [17][18][19], and hydrogen-bonding catalysis [20][21][22]. The Michael addition reaction is a versatile synthetic methodology that allows the formation of new carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds through the coupling of electron-poor

• organocatalytic synthesis of 2-cyclohexen-1-ones via a Michael/Michael/retro-Michael cascade reaction [31]. Our research has shown that the Jørgensen–Hayashi catalyst [32][33] is a highly promising organocatalyst, facilitating enantioselective Michael addition reactions with high yields and excellent levels of

• conditions tested. Similarly, the resolution of nitro aldehydes 16 and 17, prepared by Michael addition of nitromethane to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (entries 16 and 17, Table 5), was tested, and the same results were obtained as in the cases of the malonate derivatives. These results indicate that dicarbonyl

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

• ]. In addition, cyclic diaryl λ3-bromanes have been successfully employed as halogen-bonding organocatalysts in Michael addition [8] and their chiral variants were efficient in catalyzing enantioselective Mannich reactions of ketimines with cyanomethyl coumarins [9] and malonic esters [10]. These

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

• used in the reaction, a direct Michael addition of the arylamine to the C=C bond of the maleimide unit and sequential elimination of carbon dioxide and tert-butoxide ion gives the intermediate B, which in turn undergoes an allylic rearrangement to afford the product 5. In this process, no extra

• by the tert-butoxide anion affords the zwitterionic intermediate D. In the case of triphenylphosphine, the similar zwitterionic intermediate D is stable and could be isolated as the product 6. In the case of tri(n-butyl)phosphine, Michael addition of the more activated zwitterionic intermediate D to

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

• formaldehyde at room temperature in the absence of strong acids and bases. These adducts are highly reactive intermediates capable of reacting with dienes in three-component reactions, leading to the formation of Diels–Alder main products or hetero-Diels–Alder adducts. In some cases, Michael addition products

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

• organocatalytic Michael addition to alkynals 2 (Scheme 1) [18]. The authors identified the Jørgensen–Hayashi-type catalyst C1 as the most efficient organocatalyst. In this way, a range of axially chiral styrenes were obtained in high yields and enantiomeric purities. The reaction was based on an iminium

• activation, atroposelective aza-Michael addition, and intramolecular aldol reaction to form the cationic intermediate Int-6. Release of the catalyst C2, reduction with NaBH4, and dehydration with acetic acid leads to the desired product 6. Recently, an organocatalytic atroposelective intramolecular (4 + 2

• ]. Hayashi realized an organocatalytic domino sequence that afforded axially chiral biaryls [24]. The transformation relied on an organocatalytic Michael/Henry cascade. The enamine-type Michael addition was catalyzed by the Hayashi–Jørgensen organocatalyst C7 (Scheme 6). Then, a series of one-pot reactions

Facile one-pot reduction of β-nitrostyrenes to phenethylamines using sodium borohydride and copper(II) chloride

• Laura D’Andrea and
• Simon Jademyr

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 39–46, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.4

• towards the nitro group, which makes them highly susceptible to Michael addition [34]. While being stirred with the borohydride, the substrate progressively forms an α-carbanion in the newly formed nitroalkane, which ultimately leads to Michael addition to the nitrostyrene. Furthermore, studies to

Reactivity of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents bearing a benzylamine with sulfenate salts

• Beatriz Dedeiras,
• Catarina S. Caldeira,
• José C. Cunha,
• Clara S. B. Gomes and
• M. Manuel B. Marques

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3281–3289, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.272

• lengths and angles fall within the expected range for similar compounds [31]. Later, the β-sulfinyl esters 4 were prepared by Michael addition reaction of thiols and α,β-unsaturated esters [32], followed by oxidation of the corresponding sulfides 3 using two different oxidizing agents (oxone and m-CPBA

• ) [32][33]. To investigate the reactivity of the BBXs in this electrophilic amination reaction, the generated compound 4 was subjected to a retro-Michael addition to produce the sulfenate anion intermediate, followed by the addition of BBX 2. Based on our experience with HIRs, the reaction of 2 with

• nucleophiles is more effective when a pre-formed nucleophile is used [4]. Thus, HIR 2 was added to the reaction mixture after the in situ formation of the sulfenate anion (by retro-Michael addition). First experiments were carried out under the previously described conditions for BBX electrophilic amination

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

• Michael addition product was obtained with low diastereoselectivity. The mechanism is described in Scheme 4: the bifunctional squaramide activates the azadiene through hydrogen bonding while the malononitrile is deprotonated by the tertiary amine present in the backbone of the catalyst, establishing

• hydrogen bonding with the protonated tertiary amine. Then, a Michael addition of malononitrile to the azadiene takes place to obtain exclusively the (S)-intermediate A. Subsequently an intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the nitrile leads to the intermediate B, which undergoes tautomerization to

• the bifunctional squaramide enables a stereoselective Michael addition of the azlactone to the azadiene forming intermediate A which transforms into intermediate B, which then undergoes an intramolecular cyclization to give the desired product 20. In 2020, Ni, Song and co-workers described a

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

• reported the α-alkylation of carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides via a Michael addition approach that occurred without any competition from cyclopropanation [30]. While this reaction represented the first direct alkylation of sulfoxonium ylides, it was nonetheless limited to the more reactive ester ylide variants

Synthesis of extended fluorinated tripeptides based on the tetrahydropyridazine scaffold

• Thierry Milcent,
• Pascal Retailleau,
• Benoit Crousse and
• Sandrine Ongeri

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3174–3181, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.262

• intramolecular Michael addition. Preliminary conformational studies on tripeptides including this scaffold in the central position show an extended conformation in solution (NMR) and in the solid state (X-ray). Keywords: fluoroalkyl groups; heterocycles; hydrazino acids; peptides; tetrahydropyridazines

• on an intramolecular Michael addition carried out in DMF and catalyzed by 10% of potassium carbonate. As previously observed [37], under these conditions, the 5-endo-trig cyclization was selective and the lactam resulting from the 5-exo-trig cyclization was not observed. Furthermore, in the case of

• strategy, the control of the stereoselectivity of the intramolecular aza-Michael addition could be envisaged with various chiral catalysts in further studies. These heterocyclic hydrazino acids, when incorporated into the peptidic structure, appear to confer an extended conformation. These interesting