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

• as reductive elimination [62]. G. Liu and Stahl disclosed an elegant methodology to functionalize benzylic C–H bonds via copper catalysis [30]. Under the catalytic conditions, alkylarenes were converted to benzylic nitriles in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. In the proposed mechanism

• phosphoric acid catalytic system [31]. Aminoalkenes react with Togni’s reagent in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuCl and a chiral phosphoric acid to yield pyrrolidines. Using this methodology, chiral α-quaternary substituted pyrrolidines were synthesized in good yields and excellent

• enantioselectivities. A radical chaperone methodology is based on a multicatalytic system in which a chiral Cu(I) catalyst, Brønsted acid (camphoric acid) and Ir photocatalyst work synergistically. An asymmetric synthetic method based on radical C–H functionalization was reported by Nagib and co-workers for the

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

• metal-free methodology delivered synthetically versatile iodinated homoallylic alcohols bearing piperidine motifs and pyrrolidine-fused cyclopropanes. Importantly, the reaction was carried out with high operational simplicity and environmental compatibility under mild reaction conditions. In 2024, Chan

• intermediate 76 to drive hydrolysis. This methodology tolerates structurally diverse 1,7-enyne esters and generates defined cis-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine scaffolds, which serve as synthetic intermediates for complex natural products and pharmacologically relevant heterocyclic frameworks. In 2016, Jiang group

• , affording the eight-membered benzo[b]azocin-2-one product 165. This methodology was distinguished by operational simplicity, high efficiency, and scalable synthesis. Moreover, temperature modulation achieved rapid access to cyclic compounds with distinct ring sizes. In 2022, biphenyl-embedded 1,3,5-trien-7

Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative arylation of arylhydrazines to access non-symmetric azobenzenes, including tetra-ortho derivatives

• Loris Geminiani,
• Kathrin Junge,
• Matthias Beller and
• Jean-François Soulé

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2234–2242, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.170

• -catalyzed side-reaction. As shown above, the steric hindrance plays a significant role in driving the reaction. For this reason, we have applied our novel Pd methodology to synthesize a series of tetra-, tri-, and di-ortho-substituted azobenzenes (Scheme 3). Notably, this method demonstrates remarkable

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

• that this report provided a switchable and green synthetic methodology for skeletally diverse indoles. Divergent electrochemical cyclization of 2-ethynylanilines was developed to synthesize indoles and iodoindoles (Scheme 4) [188]. Treatment of 2-ethynylanilines 10 with KI in DMSO/H2O in an undivided

The application of desymmetric enantioselective reduction of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the total synthesis of terpenoid and alkaloid natural products

• Dong-Xing Tan and
• Fu-She Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2085–2102, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.164

• . We hope this review can stimulate the methodology development and application of this strategy toward further improving the synthetic efficiency of natural product synthesis. Review Total synthesis of terpenoid and alkaloid natural products through the desymmetric enantioselective reduction of five

Further elaboration of the stereodivergent approach to chaetominine-type alkaloids: synthesis of the reported structures of aspera chaetominines A and B and revised structure of aspera chaetominine B

• Jin-Fang Lü,
• Jiang-Feng Wu,
• Jian-Liang Ye and
• Pei-Qiang Huang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2072–2081, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.162

• enantiomeric natural products have been discovered [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], and divergent synthetic methodology has attracted attention in recent years [33][34][35][36][37][38], diastereodivergent and enantiodivergent total synthesis remain rare [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48

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

• linker provides entry to 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines. Additionally, in the absence of internal nucleophiles, this methodology yields aryl-substituted 1,3-dienes. This work introduces a palladium-free, single-step alternative to multistep heterocycle construction from propargylsilanes and highlights the

• have been induced by addition of external halogen or selenium electrophiles and Brønsted acids. This encouraged us to develop a methodology involving a copper-catalyzed terminal alkyne arylation of propargylsilanes by diaryl-λ3-iodanes, followed by 1,2-silyl shift and terminated by nucleophile addition

Enantioselective desymmetrization strategy of prochiral 1,3-diols in natural product synthesis

• Lihua Wei,
• Rui Yang,
• Zhifeng Shi and
• Zhiqiang Ma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1932–1963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.151

• asymmetric synthesis of them, driving the advancement of asymmetric methodologies [5][6][7][8][9]. Enantioselective desymmetrization of symmetric substrates has emerged as a pivotal methodology for the construction of chiral centers over the past few decades [10][11][12][13]. A series of reaction types have

Stereoselective electrochemical intramolecular imino-pinacol reaction: a straightforward entry to enantiopure piperazines

• Margherita Gazzotti,
• Fabrizio Medici,
• Valerio Chiroli,
• Laura Raimondi,
• Sergio Rossi and
• Maurizio Benaglia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1897–1908, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.147

• diimines of aromatic aldehydes with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane for the synthesis of enantiopure tetrasubstituted piperazines has been investigated by an electrochemical approach. The methodology was successfully developed under both batch and continuous flow conditions, and afforded enantiomerically pure

• diimines (Scheme 4). This methodology has been successfully applied to the synthesis of enantiopure tetrasubstituted piperazines, featuring both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on the aromatic rings. Results and Discussion The stereoselective electroreductive intramolecular coupling of

• methodology, the trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane was replaced with (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine. Under the optimized conditions, the corresponding cyclic product 2k was obtained in 34% yield, consistent with previous observations reporting reduced efficiency as the ring size increases [44]. To confirm the

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of helically chiral, planarly chiral and inherently chiral molecules

• Wei Liu and
• Xiaoyu Yang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1864–1889, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.145

• stereoselectivity for the more sterically demanding aza[5]helicene 3c and aza[7]helicenes 3d–f. Furthermore, the authors expanded this methodology to a double Fischer indolization reaction between hydrazine 1i and ketone 2i, which yielded diaza[8]helicene 4 with moderate yield and high enantioselectivity after

• aromatization process, in 2023 our group reported the asymmetric synthesis of various azahelicenes 8 from polycyclic arylamines 5, dienamides 6 and aldehydes 7 (Scheme 2) [13]. This methodology demonstrates a broad substrate scope, enabling the efficient asymmetric synthesis of diverse aza[5]helicenes 8a–d and

• reaction produced the imine 16a which, upon treatment with Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and KHMDS, led to furan ring formation and the generation of hetero[7]helicene 17a while maintaining the stereochemical configuration. Through this methodology, a range of elongated [7]- and [8]heterohelicenes 17b–d incorporating both

Fe-catalyzed efficient synthesis of 2,4- and 4-substituted quinolines via C(sp²)–C(sp²) bond scission of styrenes

• Prafull A. Jagtap,
• Manish M. Petkar,
• Vaishnavi R. Sawant and
• Bhalchandra M. Bhanage

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1799–1807, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.142

• this methodology. As summarized in Scheme 2, we initially investigated the scope and effect of arylamine functionalities on this transformation. Under optimized reaction conditions, arylamines bearing either electron-rich or electron-deficient substituents at the para-position demonstrated good

• , resulting in the formation of both 3r and 3r′, which were obtained in 86% combined yield. Gram-scale studies were conducted to further demonstrate the synthetic potential and practical utility of the developed methodology. The biologically significant compounds 6-(tert-butyl)-2,4-diphenylquinoline (3d) and

Thermodynamics and polarity-driven properties of fluorinated cyclopropanes

• Matheus P. Freitas

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1742–1747, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.137

• dispersion corrections to improve the modeling of nonbonding interactions [23]. The same computational protocol was applied to cyclopropane, methane, and methyl fluoride, used as reference molecules in the isodesmic reactions. This methodology has proven reliable for predicting the energetics and properties

Continuous-flow-enabled intensification in nitration processes: a review of technological developments and practical applications over the past decade

• Feng Zhou,
• Chuansong Duanmu,
• Yanxing Li,
• Jin Li,
• Haiqing Xu,
• Pan Wang and
• Kai Zhu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1678–1699, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.132

• . Analysis methods: A statistical analysis (Figure 4d) indicates that over 80% of analyses for continuous-flow nitration processes employ the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) methodology [57]. This approach inherently relies on scientific intuition, where experimental campaigns are conducted through iterative

• systems. A well-established framework has emerged for modeling nitration kinetics in homogeneous systems, with the following generalized methodology currently adopted across mechanistic studies. Reaction kinetics in homogeneous systems: The model reaction for the homogeneous nitration reaction by nitric

• nitration scale-up processes. HAZOP (hazard and operability study) also serves as a pivotal safety assessment methodology in continuous-flow nitration process development, leveraging its systematic framework for risk identification and process safety optimization. For instance, the nitration of toluene is

Catalytic asymmetric reactions of isocyanides for constructing non-central chirality

• Jia-Yu Liao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1648–1660, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.129

• :1 dr, 99% ee). Subsequently, we expanded this methodology to prochiral N-quinazolinone maleimides 59, achieving the simultaneous generation of N–N axial and central chirality within a single step (Scheme 9b) [56]. Of particular note, an interesting ligand-induced diastereodivergent profile was

Transition-state aromaticity and its relationship with reactivity in pericyclic reactions

• Israel Fernández

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1613–1626, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.125

• that the gain in (in-plane) aromaticity in the parent reaction is not translated into a gain in stability (i.e., a more aromatic transition structure does not translate into a lower-barrier process). Following the same methodology, the ASM of reactivity was applied then to understand the reasons behind

Facile synthesis of hydantoin/1,2,4-oxadiazoline spiro-compounds via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 5-iminohydantoins

• Juliana V. Petrova,
• Varvara T. Tkachenko,
• Victor A. Tafeenko,
• Anna S. Pestretsova,
• Vadim S. Pokrovsky,
• Maxim E. Kukushkin and
• Elena K. Beloglazkina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1552–1560, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.118

• regioselectively for both methods. In most cases, the reactions proceeded with high yield and without the formation of significant byproducts. Results and Discussion Synthesis Hydantoins 2, containing an exocyclic C=N group, were synthesized according to the methodology described in [22] (Scheme 1). In brief, N,N

• of nitrile oxides to isocyanates or their dimerization [26][27]. Since isomerization is believed to be the primary direction of molecule degradation only for bulky o,o'-disubstituted aromatic dipoles [28][29][30], the main efforts in developing a methodology were focused on suppressing dimerization

Azide–alkyne cycloaddition (click) reaction in biomass-derived solvent Cyrene^TM under one-pot conditions

• Zoltán Medgyesi and
• László T. Mika

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1544–1551, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.117

• and atom-economical strategies for efficiently assembling new carbon–carbon [1][2][3] and carbon–heteroatom [4][5][6] bonds. Thus, it has become the most attractive and facile methodology for creating various complex organic molecular structures from the laboratory to the industrial scale. Among these

Ambident reactivity of enolizable 5-mercapto-1H-tetrazoles in trapping reactions with in situ-generated thiocarbonyl S-methanides derived from sterically crowded cycloaliphatic thioketones

• Grzegorz Mlostoń,
• Małgorzata Celeda,
• Marcin Palusiak,
• Heinz Heimgartner,
• Marta Denel-Bobrowska and
• Agnieszka B. Olejniczak

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1508–1519, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.113

• -established methodology, transient thiocarbonyl S-methanides 1 should be generated in situ by thermal decomposition of their precursors, i.e., spiro-1,3,4-thiadiazolines 2 [5][6]. In contrast to adamantanethione (7a), which reacts with diazomethane (CH2N2) yielding a mixture of regioisomeric 1,3,4- and 1,2,3

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

• . Control experiments, Figure S20). Conclusion In conclusion, a novel synthetic methodology for the preparation of benzamides from isonitriles and diaryliodonium salts has been proposed utilizing visible-light photoredox ruthenium-based catalysis. Both symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts were

Advances in nitrogen-containing helicenes: synthesis, chiroptical properties, and optoelectronic applications

• Meng Qiu,
• Jing Du,
• Nai-Te Yao,
• Xin-Yue Wang and
• Han-Yuan Gong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1422–1453, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.106

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

• methods for oxetane synthesis, mainly due to its practicality and versatility. 1.1.1.1 Substitution of a leaving group: In 2017, Moody et al. developed a new route towards spiro-oxetanes 8 utilising a combination of 1,4-C–H insertion and Williamson etherification (Scheme 3) [38]. The methodology commences

• oxidation of the metal centre turns the cobalt into an excellent leaving group, allowing for an intramolecular displacement reaction that affords the oxetane ring and regenerates the Co(II) catalyst. In 2023, Silvi et al. described a versatile and practical methodology that couples Williamson etherification

• vinylsulphonium triflates 28 which combine the features of a radical acceptor (in a Giese-type addition) and a leaving group. The use of ketyl radicals for oxetane synthesis was also investigated by Schindler and co-workers and a year later the group published a methodology that utilises a similar Giese addition

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

• demonstrated a decent methodology of organic synthesis. These elegant strategies presented powerful C–H bond transformation toolkits (Figure 1b) [6][7][8]. One of the exceptions to the perfection is the pre-functionalization of substrates. Current catalytic methodologies predominantly rely on substrate

• concurrent generation of byproduct 46. Subsequent trapping of radical 4 by HRP-9 leads to the generation of product 69. This methodology demonstrates a broad substrate scope and exhibits significant synthetic utility, particularly for the generation of products 70, 71, and 72 with yields ranging from 54% to

• effectively abstracts a hydrogen atom from the polyolefin substrate, demonstrating notable regioselectivity. The xanthylation reaction preferentially generates main products 76, and byproducts (77 and 78). Furthermore, the successful implementation of this methodology facilitates the production of a diverse

Recent advances in oxidative radical difunctionalization of N-arylacrylamides enabled by carbon radical reagents

• Jiangfei Chen,
• Yi-Lin Qu,
• Ming Yuan,
• Xiang-Mei Wu,
• Heng-Pei Jiang,
• Ying Fu and
• Shengrong Guo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1207–1271, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.98

• subsequently adds to the activated alkene of N-arylacrylamide, followed by intramolecular cyclization, ultimately leading to the formation of the hydroxy-containing oxindole via the loss of a hydrogen radical. In 2016, Han and colleagues developed a novel methodology in which TBHP served dual roles as both

• ) [6]. This methodology enabled the selective functionalization of one or two C(sp3)–H bonds adjacent to the nitrile group, leading to the formation of diverse polycycles with high selectivity. Various reaction parameters were systematically examined, including Lewis acids, oxidants, bases, reaction

• ions, making a significant contribution to synthetic methodology (Scheme 19) [12]. This method was conducted in an undivided cell, using N-methyl-N-phenylacrylamide 1 and sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (36) as model reactants. Through meticulous optimization of conditions, including catalyst

Enhancing chemical synthesis planning: automated quantum mechanics-based regioselectivity prediction for C–H activation with directing groups

• Julius Seumer,
• Nicolai Ree and
• Jan H. Jensen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1171–1182, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.94

• metallation deprotonation mechanisms mediated by common catalysts like Pd(OAc)2. Our methodology not only identifies potential activation sites but also addresses the limitations of existing models by including a broader range of directing groups and reaction conditions while maintaining moderate

• . Computational Methodology of the QM Workflow The here developed predictive QM-based model calculates which potential reaction site is most likely to react based on its corresponding reaction energy. Following the BEP principle, the relative energy of the intermediate should correlate linearly with the energy of

• groups, we use a different approach to identify relevant palladacycle complexes as in points 1. and 2. outlined in the section “Computational Methodology of the QM Workflow”. Instead of using SMARTS patterns to detect pairs of ortho-directing groups and reaction sites, we detect all potential reaction

Investigations of amination reactions on an antimalarial 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine scaffold

• Henry S. T. Smith,
• Ben Giuliani,
• Kanchana Wijesekera,
• Kah Yean Lum,
• Sandra Duffy,
• Aaron Lock,
• Jonathan M. White,
• Vicky M. Avery and
• Rohan A. Davis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1126–1134, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.90

• good yield with this straightforward methodology (and without the need for toluene reflux), and to determine the distribution of products obtained for this synthetic approach, by exhaustive analysis of reaction mixtures by HPLC, MS and NMR. Ultimately, 14 aminated derivatives of 5-chloro-3-(4