Recent advances in total synthesis of illisimonin A

• Juan Huang and
• Ming Yang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2571–2583, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.199

• proposed biosynthetic pathway clarifies the relationship between illisimonin A and other Illicium sesquiterpenes. Allo-cedrane-type, seco-prezizaane-type and illismonane-type Illicium sesquiterpenes are all biosynthesized from farnesyl diphosphate (2) through a series of cationic cyclizations and

Isoorotamide-based peptide nucleic acid nucleobases with extended linkers aimed at distal base recognition of adenosine in double helical RNA

• Grant D. Walby,
• Brandon R. Tessier,
• Tristan L. Mabee,
• Jennah M. Hoke,
• Hallie M. Bleam,
• Angelina Giglio-Tos,
• Emily E. Harding,
• Vladislavs Baskevics,
• Martins Katkevics,
• Eriks Rozners and
• James A. MacKay

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2513–2523, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.193

• extended nucleobase for pyrimidine recognition of RNA include N-(4-(3-acetamidophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)acetamide (S) [31] and N4-(2-guanidoethyl)-5-methylcytosine (Q) [32] used by the Chen group, and cationic nucleobases such as 2-guanidylpyridine (V) [33] and substituted aminopyridine bases (M2R, MeOM2R and

• phenomenon was observed previously with V and this design element was intentionally incorporated with an expectation toward aiding in triplex stability [33]. For Db1, calculations reveal that the intended H-bond between the cationic –NH2+– moiety did in fact form (ca. 2.1 Å, Figure 7A). However, the distal

• physiologically cationic nitrogen (i.e., M, V, and Io7), an ammonium moiety in the linker seemingly does not assist in stabilizing binding to the RNA sequence, as is indicated by comparison of the modeling of Db1 and the UV melting. Additionally, the extended length of the PNA monomer and linker brings in an

Synthesis of the tetracyclic skeleton of Aspidosperma alkaloids via PET-initiated cationic radical-derived interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich reaction

• Ru-Dong Liu,
• Jian-Yu Long,
• Zhi-Lin Song,
• Zhen Yang and
• Zhong-Chao Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2470–2478, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.189

• of new reactions and strategies. In this work, a PET-initiated cationic radical-derived interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich reaction of N-substituted cyclobutenone provided a facile approach to the direct construction of the ABCE tetracyclic framework of Aspidosperma alkaloids. DFT calculations showed

• generates the cationic radical G, which initiates formation of H, which has a strained bicyclo [3.2.0]heptane core. Strain release of H triggers a downstream radical-driven retro-Mannich reaction, which ultimately results in the formation of J via reductive quenching of intermediate I. As part of our

• ambiguous mechanistic feature suggests an unusual 1,3-C shift, and indicates that this reaction proceeds via a PET-initiated interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich process. Conclusion In summary, a PET-initiated cationic radical-derived interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich reaction has been developed for

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of selenium-containing atropisomers via C–Se bond formations

• Qi-Sen Gao,
• Zheng-Wei Wei and
• Zhi-Min Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2447–2455, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.186

• or cationic species. In 2019, Qin and co-workers reported a methodology enabling the difunctionalization of alkynes through selenosulfonylation of a VQM intermediate under mild reaction conditions [20]. This racemic transformation proceeds without the need for any catalyst or additive, and the

Transformation of the cyclohexane ring to the cyclopentane fragment of biologically active compounds

• Natalya Akhmetdinova,
• Ilgiz Biktagirov and
• Liliya Kh. Faizullina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2416–2446, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.185

• in the stabilization of cationic reaction intermediates [91][92]. Yokoshima and co-workers [93][94] developed an elegant approach to the total synthesis of the alkaloid huperzine Q (206) in racemic form (Scheme 37). In the process of synthesis, a cis-hydrindane core was prepared from the known

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

• -bisphenylene) (CBPQT4+) along the axle of rotaxanes [24]. Specifically, they used acridane as a recognition unit and stopper in a [2]rotaxane. Thus, the electron-rich acridane interacts with the electron-poor CBPQT4+, and upon light irradiation, the formation of the cationic acridinium repels the CBPQT4

• , thereby avoiding the terminal cationic sites [25]. The shuttling is restored by the thermal reaction that regenerates the neutral acridane [24][25][26]. The same group also demonstrated that similar rotaxanes can be incorporated onto gold nanoparticles and retain their photoreactivity and switching

Insoluble methylene-bridged glycoluril dimers as sequestrants for dyes

• Suvenika Perera,
• Peter Y. Zavalij and
• Lyle Isaacs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2302–2314, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.176

• glycoluril tetramer-derived acyclic CB[n] (e.g., M1) containing benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene aromatic sidewalls bearing O(CH2)3SO3Na water-solubilizing groups and found that the hosts with larger sidewalls displayed higher affinity toward hydrophobic alicyclic cationic guests [42][43]. Conversely, we

• of dyes (Figure 2). We also studied the previously reported host H2 [39], which is an isomer of G2W4, to potentially uncover any substituent effects (OH or OMe). For this study, we used the five dyes shown in Figure 2 (three cationic and two neutral) and employed a batch-mode experimental design

• conducted previously with water-soluble G2M2 established that the planar cationic dye methylene blue is encapsulated in the host’s central cavity which provides a rationale for its good removal using H2. Since G2W1 fills its own cavity (vide infra), its good removal efficiency toward methylene violet likely

Enantioselective radical chemistry: a bright future ahead

• Anna C. Renner,
• Sagar S. Thorat,
• Hariharaputhiran Subramanian and
• Mukund P. Sibi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2283–2296, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.174

• oxidation or reduction of the radical yields a cationic or anionic intermediate that participates in a subsequent step through a polar mechanism. An important aspect of many of these radical reactions is that they can result in the formation of new carbon–carbon bonds, a fundamental goal in organic

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

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

• cationic resonance G quickly. The nucleophilic attack of D2O formed H, which underwent dedeuteration and elimination of DI to form 30a with reduction of deuterated water to generate deuteroxyl ions (OD−) and deuterium gas (D2) at the cathode. This method, using iodide salts as electrolyte and redox

• cationic intermediate C, which was converted into D through nucleophilic addition of 31a. Trapping D by the weak nucleophile H2O formed the by-product 34, while trapping of D by CH3CN generated species E, which was trapped by H2O and formed intermediate F. Furthermore, oxidation of F at the anode produced

C2 to C6 biobased carbonyl platforms for fine chemistry

• Jingjing Jiang,
• Muhammad Noman Haider Tariq,
• Florence Popowycz,
• Yanlong Gu and
• Yves Queneau

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2103–2172, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.165

Aryl iodane-induced cascade arylation–1,2-silyl shift–heterocyclization of propargylsilanes under copper catalysis

• Rasma Kroņkalne,
• Rūdolfs Beļaunieks,
• Armands Sebris,
• Anatoly Mishnev and
• Māris Turks

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1984–1994, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.154

• species are limited to aryl- [7][8][10] or heteroaryl groups [7][8]. In one example methyl ethers were used [9]. Under [Pd]-catalyzed conditions a syn-type addition is observed [8][11], while [Cu] catalysts promote anti-addition [7][10]. In substrates prone to cationic rearrangements (or hydride shifts

• reaction [17] and a [4 + 2] annulation reaction between o-carboxylic ester-containing diaryl-λ3-iodanes and some terminal alkynes [18]. Looking to expand the possibilities for terminal alkyne carbofunctionalization, we turned our attention to propargylsilanes, which are prone to undergo cationic

Photochemical reduction of acylimidazolium salts

• Michael Jakob,
• Nick Bechler,
• Hassan Abdelwahab,
• Fabian Weber,
• Janos Wasternack,
• Leonardo Kleebauer,
• Jan P. Götze and
• Matthew N. Hopkinson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1973–1983, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.153

• species C benefitting from additional stabilization by virtue of electron delocalization onto the NHC-derived azolium ring [17][18][19][20]. Similarly, the cationic azolium fragment in acylazolium salts can effectively lower the carbonyl reduction potential relative to the starting material with single

Research progress on calixarene/pillararene-based controlled drug release systems

• Liu-Huan Yi,
• Jian Qin,
• Si-Ran Lu,
• Liu-Pan Yang,
• Li-Li Wang and
• Huan Yao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1757–1785, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.139

• in organic solvents, [77] which is not feasible for crown ethers, CAs, and resorcinarenes. In addition, PAs can form supramolecular systems in the following ways: (1) the electron-rich cavity interacts electrostatically with cationic guests, such as methyl viologen derivatives, pyridinium salts, and

• quaternary ammonium salts [78]. (2) After modification with cationic groups, they can bind with anionic molecules, such as sulfonates [79]. It is worth mentioning that the cavity of PAs can encapsulate photo-responsive guests such as cationic azobenzene derivatives, providing new ideas for the innovation of

• an example, SC4A encapsulates the pyridine group of AnPy with its electron-rich cavity, neutralizing the electrostatic repulsion of the cationic head group and promoting the close packing of the AnPy rings through hydrophobic interactions and π-π stacking, while its deprotonated phenolic groups

Photoredox-catalyzed arylation of isonitriles by diaryliodonium salts towards benzamides

• Nadezhda M. Metalnikova,
• Nikita S. Antonkin,
• Tuan K. Nguyen,
• Natalia S. Soldatova,
• Alexander V. Nyuchev,
• Mikhail A. Kinzhalov and
• Pavel S. Postnikov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1480–1488, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.110

• resulting aryl radical is subsequently captured by an isonitrile molecule, forming an imidoyl radical intermediate X1. The intermediate X1 facilitates the reduction of the Ru(III) species back to Ru(II) thereby completing the photoredox cycle, with the formation of the cationic intermediate X2. We propose

• that bulky isonitriles effectively shield the radical or cationic centers in intermediates X1 or X2, thereby preventing multiple additions of isonitrile to give the highest yields for benzamides 2be and 2ge among the scope of isonitriles. In the final step of the reaction, the addition of a water

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

• irradiation and employ the same cationic iridium photosensitiser, but they differ in solvent, catalyst loading and power of the light source which is reflected mainly in the reaction times. The cycloadducts were obtained in high yields and both electron-rich and poor aryls were tolerated, as well as

Gold extraction at the molecular level using α- and β-cyclodextrins

• Susana Santos Braga

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1116–1125, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.89

• because of its unique properties. Gold is soft, ductile, malleable, and a good conductor of heat and electricity, having the lowest electrochemical potential amidst metals. This means that cationic gold (in any form) can accept electrons from any reducing agent to form metallic gold while, in turn

Biobased carbon dots as photoreductants – an investigation by using triarylsulfonium salts

• Valentina Benazzi,
• Arianna Bini,
• Ilaria Bertuol,
• Mariangela Novello,
• Federica Baldi,
• Matteo Hoch,
• Alvise Perosa and
• Stefano Protti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1024–1030, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.84

• photoreductants, and we considered triarylsulfonium salts Ar3S+X− as suitable probes. Such derivatives are photoreactive molecules characterized by a positively charged sulfur atom bonded to three aromatic moieties [20][21][22][23], mainly employed as photoacid generators in cationic polymerization [19]. Apart

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

• , probably due to the formation of a more acidic cationic gold complex. Following this annulation, reduction of the amide in 20, catalytic hydrogenation of the alkene and the N-benzyl group, and subsequent nitrogen acylation yielded chloride 21 in a 42% total yield, setting the stage for the Witkop

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

• ][44] and hydroalkoxylations [45]. In 2013, Van der Eycken and co-workers described an intramolecular cationic gold-catalyzed post-Ugi heteroannulation of imidazoles with activated alkynes for the diversity-oriented synthesis of imidazo[1,4]diazepines 13 from Ugi-derived propargylamides 12 (Scheme 1c

• ) [46]. In 2019, Li, Yang, Van der Eycken and co-workers reported a modification of this strategy relying on thermal activation instead of cationic gold catalysis [47]. The approach worked particularly well with substrates featuring terminal alkynes. Inspired by these developments and taking into

Acyclic cucurbit[n]uril bearing alkyl sulfate ionic groups

• Christian Akakpo,
• Peter Y. Zavalij and
• Lyle Isaacs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 717–726, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.55

• , two aromatic o-xylylene walls, and four sulfonates as solubilizing ionic groups. In accord with these structural features, M1 binds a variety of hydrophobic and cationic guest molecules by the hydrophobic effect, π–π interactions, and electrostatic (ion–dipole and ion–ion) interactions. Although

Binding of tryptophan and tryptophan-containing peptides in water by a glucose naphtho crown ether

• Gianpaolo Gallo and
• Bartosz Lewandowski

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 541–546, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.42

• – anionic, Lys – cationic, Leu – hydrophobic) affects their binding by the receptor. Additionally, to probe whether the chiral glucose backbone of the receptor allows to achieve selective binding of one enantiomer of tryptophan over the other we used both ʟ- and ᴅ-tryptophan as guests. The binding of amino

• , Table 1). Pleasingly, phenylalanine, which alike Trp contains an aromatic side chain is also bound by 1 with a more than two-fold lower affinity (entry 3, Table 1). Glu with an anionic side chain, is bound by 1 almost three-fold weaker than Trp. The binding affinity of 1 towards Lys with a cationic side

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

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

• ][169][176][177][178][179], which have a “−12” charge in the framework, and can stabilize cationic species (polarization) (Figure 5D). However, for reactions in which the charge doesn’t change much between ground state and transition state, catalysis is again predominantly entropically driven inside the

• cavity, for instance by constriction (organization) [36][180][181]. Likewise, the cationic cages of Fujita [151][154][160][170][172][182][183][184][185][186][187][188][189] can stabilize anionic species [184]. The work of Lusby [166][190][191][192][193][194][195][196] is notable for using the metals in

• the cage framework to polarize adjacent aryl–hydrogen bonds in the ligands by enough to coordinate and activate substrates (Figure 5E) [190]. Here, the use of bulky counteranions reinforces the cationic cage interior, which is enhanced further by use of lower polarity solvents, and the pKa of confined

Oxidation of [3]naphthylenes to cations and dications converts local paratropicity into global diatropicity

• Abel Cárdenas,
• Zexin Jin,
• Yong Ni,
• Jishan Wu,
• Yan Xia,
• Francisco Javier Ramírez and
• Juan Casado

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 277–285, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.20

• , it has been very insightful to study the molecular transformations associated with the generation of cationic species in conjugated aromatic oligomers displaying one-dimensional π-electron delocalization [1]. Oligothiophenes [2] and oligo(para-phenylene vinylenes) [3] have been used as models of

• k[ν(CC)] values of m-2 and its cationic species follow all the same qualitative behavior exhibited for m-1, though with significant quantitative differences. The force constant of the e bond (intrinsic CBD) in the dication of m-2 is only 0.41 mdyn/Å higher than in the neutral species, i.e., a

• electronic delocalization. In order to figure out the driving force that leads the stabilization of the oxidized species of 1 and 2, we calculated the NICS values of all fused rings in the neutral and cationic species of m-1 and m-2 (Figure 7), in order to obtain a precise and comparable measurement of the