Visible-light-driven NHC and organophotoredox dual catalysis for the synthesis of carbonyl compounds

• Vasudevan Dhayalan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2584–2603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.200

• -coupling processes. This cooperative organic dual catalysis has great potential in medicinal, pharmaceutical, and materials science applications, including the development of organic semiconductors and polymers. In recent years, NHC-involved photocatalysis has attracted considerable attention in synthetic

• continued integration of this versatile photocatalytic platform with sustainable methods such as visible-light harvesting and the use of earth-abundant catalysts is expected to further enhance its impact across diverse research fields, including chemical biology, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers

Synthetic study toward vibralactone

• Liang Shi,
• Jiayi Song,
• Yiqing Li,
• Jia-Chen Li,
• Shuqi Li,
• Li Ren,
• Zhi-Yun Liu and
• Hong-Dong Hao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2376–2382, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.182

• ; Introduction β-Lactones have attracted continuous interest and have been widely utilized as key intermediates in the synthesis of natural products and polymers due to their innate ring strain [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Moreover, several natural products and their derivatives containing β-lactone as key structural

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

• surrounding environment. Controlling macrocycle shuttling via light activation has proven valuable for enabling secondary functions. For example, when integrated into polymers or gels, the mechanical motion of rotaxanes can be harnessed to control the macroscopic properties of materials or even generate

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

• due to its simplicity, efficiency, low cost, and the absence of hazardous byproducts [6]. Many different adsorptive materials have been investigated including activated carbon [7][8][9], hybrid nanomaterials [10], metal oxide-based hybrid materials [11], metal organic frameworks [12], polymers [13

• that β-cyclodextrin (Figure 1)-based polymers could remove organic micropollutants from water [15][16]. For example, in 2021, Sessler and co-workers reported the synthesis of a calix[4]pyrrole (Figure 1)-based porous organic polymer, which exhibits the rapid uptake of dyes from water [17]. In addition

• , graphene functionalized with β-cyclodextrins [18], a starch-based β-cyclodextrin polymer [19], and pillar[5]arene-based crosslinked polymers have also been investigated as sequestrants for dyes [20]. The Isaacs group has a longstanding interest in the synthesis and mechanism of formation of macrocyclic

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

• reaction, while the catalyst Lewis base sites produce fructose (Scheme 19) [93]. Shi et al. [94] reported a novel strategy to synthesize glycolic acid (GA), a very important building block of biodegradable polymers as already stressed in the C2 section. The catalytic one-pot synthesis of GA and co

• from homogeneous catalysts such as mineral acids, organic acids, metal salts (with high availability and low costs) to heterogeneous ones such as zeolites, metal oxides, sulfonated polymers, carbon-based solid acids. The latter allow to overcome the problems of separation encountered with homogeneous

• hydrogenation to produce furfuryl alcohol. This latter is a versatile intermediate for the production of resins, coatings, polymers and used as a solvent. It can also be converted into other chemicals through oxidative cleavage, over-reduction and etherification (Scheme 49) [177]. Zhang et al. reported the use

Solar thermal fuels: azobenzene as a cyclic photon–heat transduction platform

• Jie Yan,
• Shaodong Sun,
• Minghao Wang and
• Si Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2036–2047, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.159

• far, azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels mainly include: nanocarbon-based azobenzene polymers, conjugated azobenzene polymers, linear azobenzene polymers, and azobenzene small molecule derivatives. From this perspective, we review various azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels and their potential

• [47], where the azobenzene moieties undergo reversible photoisomerization and thermally induced reverse isomerization, enabling "energy charging–discharging" cycles (Figure 4a). Under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (254 nm), the closely packed diacetylene polymers undergo polymerization to form π

• monomer to 103 min for the polymer. Linear azobenzene polymer solar thermal fuels Linear azobenzene polymers possess excellent processability and serve as ideal solid-state matrices for photoisomerization [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57], making them suitable candidates for solar thermal fuels

Systematic pore lipophilization to enhance the efficiency of an amine-based MOF catalyst in the solvent-free Knoevenagel reaction

• Pricilla Matseketsa,
• Margret Kumbirayi Ruwimbo Pagare and
• Tendai Gadzikwa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1854–1863, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.144

• functional groups are isolated together in confined space [7][8][9]. In the solid state, the generation of such multifunctional cavities has been pursued upon nanoporous scaffolds that include polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) [10][11][12][13], mesoporous silica materials (MSMs) [14][15][16][17

• of carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes or ketones, with active methylene compounds [37]. The resulting α,β-unsaturated carbonyl products can then be further elaborated to form natural products, therapeutic agents, polymers, pesticides, and insecticides [38], which have important applications in the

Photoswitches beyond azobenzene: a beginner’s guide

• Michela Marcon,
• Christoph Haag and
• Burkhard König

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1808–1853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.143

• introduction of intramolecular interactions [123]; other solutions are the incorporation in polymers [124] or the confinement in supramolecular cages [125][126]. The thermal stability was found to depend primarily on the nature of the aryl rings: the high aromatic stabilisation energy of phenyl is correlated

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

• -linking of polymers (such as PLGA and PEG), inorganic materials (such as gold and silica), or biomolecules (lipids and proteins), enabling efficient drug loading and controlled release [66][67][68]. Among them, amphiphilic CAs that incorporate both hydrophilic groups and hydrophobic alkyl chains through

• this new molecular recognition motif to create a supramolecular amphiphilic reagent using WP7 and an amphiphilic paraquat derivative G2. This pH-responsive drug delivery system has considerable potential for future medical applications. Hydrophilic supramolecular polymers that respond to stimuli

• prepared a novel supramolecular ternary polymer DiCh@a-CD-bisSC4A and binary polymers DiCh@bisSC4A Compared to binary DiCh@bisSC4A, ternary DiCh@a-CD-bisSC4A has not only a larger polymer size but also a better size distribution and topological structure due to the integration of quasi rotaxanes with

Unique halogen–π association detected in single crystals of C–N atropisomeric N-(2-halophenyl)quinolin-2-one derivatives and the thione analogue

• Mai Uchibori,
• Nanami Murate,
• Kanako Shima,
• Tatsunori Sakagami,
• Ko Kanehisa,
• Gary James Richards,
• Akiko Hori and
• Osamu Kitagawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1748–1756, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.138

• N-(2-bromo- or 2-chlorophenyl)quinolin-2-ones, homochiral layered polymers, which consist of (P)- or (M)-atropisomers, were formed through intermolecular halogen–π association. The halogen–π association in the racemates is due to a halogen bond (C–X···π) between a σ-hole on the halogen atom and a π

• )quinoline-2-thione, heterochiral layered polymers, in which (P)- and (M)-atropisomers were alternately connected, were formed through an n–π* interaction between a lone electron pair on the bromine atom and a π* orbital of the quinoline-2-thione. Keywords: atropisomers; C–N bond; halogen bond; quinolinones

• through a σ-type intermolecular halogen bonding (C–Br···O) between the ortho-bromine atom and the carbonyl oxygen. The formation of similar heterochiral polymers through a σ-type intermolecular halogen bond (C–Br···S) was also found in crystals of the thio-analogue rac-II. On the other hand, in the

Influence of the cation in hypophosphite-mediated catalyst-free reductive amination

• Natalia Lebedeva,
• Fedor Kliuev,
• Olesya Zvereva,
• Klim Biriukov,
• Evgeniya Podyacheva,
• Maria Godovikova,
• Oleg I. Afanasyev and
• Denis Chusov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1661–1670, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.130

• of the most actively applied reductants with phosphorus-hydrogen bond in industry, for example, in production of polymers [1], pharmaceuticals [2], electroless plating [3], metal corrosion prevention [4] and even food preservation [5]. NaH2PO2 is a non-toxic (LD50 7640 mg/kg – rat) (SDS Thermo Fisher

Synthesis of optically active folded cyclic dimers and trimers

• Ena Kumamoto,
• Kana Ogawa,
• Kazunori Okamoto and
• Yasuhiro Morisaki

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1603–1612, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.124

• , enantiopure [2.2]paracyclophane was used as a chiral monomer to prepare optically active conjugated polymers and cyclic trimers [21], in which π-electron systems were stacked to form zigzag and triangular structures, respectively. The conjugated polymers and cyclic trimers exhibited circularly polarized

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

• thia-bridged triarylamine[4]helicene-functionalized polynorbornenes 63a–c via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), introducing helicene chirality into polymer backbones with tunable electrochromic behavior [78]. These polymers exhibit reversible pH-responsive color changes. For instance, 63a

• transitions from pale yellow to deep blue in the solid state upon exposure to TFA, while 63b and 63c in CH2Cl2 exhibit new absorption bands at 570 and 575 nm, respectively – reversibly decolorized upon triethylamine treatment (Table 22). This work demonstrates the potential of helicene-containing polymers as

Tautomerism and switching in 7-hydroxy-8-(azophenyl)quinoline and similar compounds

• Lidia Zaharieva,
• Vera Deneva,
• Fadhil S. Kamounah,
• Nikolay Vassilev,
• Ivan Angelov,
• Michael Pittelkow and
• Liudmil Antonov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1404–1421, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.105

• and systems, including gels [17], metal-organic frameworks [18][19][20][21], photocatalysts [22][23], container molecules [24][25][26], drug delivery systems [27][28][29], photoresponsive polymers [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37], photoswitches [12][13][38][39][40][41], optical storage devices [42][43

High-pressure activation for the solvent- and catalyst-free syntheses of heterocycles, pharmaceuticals and esters

• Kelsey Plasse,
• Valerie Wright,
• Guoshu Xie,
• R. Bernadett Vlocskó,
• Alexander Lazarev and
• Béla Török

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1374–1387, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.102

• conducting polymers or scaffolds for drug synthesis. Among them, 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazoles are widely found in many materials, drug candidates, and catalysts. For instance, they can be used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) [38], as water-soluble antitrypanosomatid agents [39], or in the synthesis of

Selective monoformylation of naphthalene-fused propellanes for methylene-alternating copolymers

• Kenichi Kato,
• Tatsuki Hiroi,
• Seina Okada,
• Shunsuke Ohtani and
• Tomoki Ogoshi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1183–1191, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.95

• cages and frameworks [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19], polymers of intrinsic microporosity [20][21][22][23][24], and so forth. Characteristically, they possess molecular-size cavities, which contribute to intricate molecular recognition [25], confined spaces for reactions [26], and small-molecule

• well with the observed reactivities and selectivity. Attempted macrocyclization leading to linear polymers Formyl groups have diverse reactivities and enable facile condensation, dynamic covalent chemistry, and so on. In this work, we tried the synthesis of cyclic oligomers composed of naphthalene

• . Despite the stereocontrolled substrate, the resonances in the 1H NMR spectrum of the product remained broad. Therefore, we concluded that these systems were difficult to give specific macrocyclic oligomers but instead provided linear polymers composed of fully π-fused propellanes. After the reactions

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

• molecular architectures in pharmaceuticals, polymers, and agrochemicals. Despite advancements in directing group (DG) methodologies and computational approaches, predicting accurate regioselectivity in C–H activation poses significant difficulties due to the diversity and complexity of organic compounds

• bonds in organic chemicals. Therefore, their selective functionalization is essential for advancing the synthesis of complex molecules like pharmaceuticals, polymers, or agrochemicals [1][2][3]. Advancements in organometallic catalysis have facilitated significant progress in this area through C–H

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

• approach, CDs arise from the decomposition of large carbogenic structures (including graphite, graphite sheets and carbon nanotubes), whereas in the bottom-up approach such materials are obtained by carbonization of small organic molecules and biowastes (carbohydrates, polymers, bioorganic compounds

• voltammetry of triarylsulfonium salts and NMR spectra. Funding Fondazione Cariplo (Photo and Mechano-Chemistry for the Upgrading of Agro- and Sea-food Waste to advanced polymers and nanocarbon materials, CUBWAM, project 2021–0751).

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

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

• and water [1][2][3][4]. Building on this fundamental knowledge, supramolecular chemists created a variety of functional systems including supramolecular polymers, sensing ensembles, molecular machines, supramolecular separation phases, and drug delivery systems [5][6][7][8][9]. A primary subfield of

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

• imprinted polymers (MIPs) [60] has been discussed elsewhere and will not be covered. Perspective Cavity catalysis: current state of the art Functionalized macrocycles Since Cramer’s work with cyclodextrins [61][62][63], there has been significant interest in using macrocyclic confinement to modulate

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

• participating group. Irrespective of the mechanism, it has been used to prepare pure (1,3)-β-glucan polymers. Chloroacetyl and orthogonal protecting groups: There are other ester-type groups that establish neighbouring group participation when placed in the C-2 position of glycosyl donors, yet differentiate

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

• shift (NICS) calculations and anisotropy of the current induced density (ACID) plots, as they evidenced the presence of a perimetral diatropic global ring current upon oxidation. Keywords: ACID; aromaticity; force constants; NICS; spectroscopy; Introduction Since the discovery of conjugated polymers

• systems in which charge defects are responsible for conductivity in their corresponding conducting polymers. Acenes are the archetypal structure of small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a π-electron structure expanded over a sequence of linearly fused benzenes [4]. Whereas acenes, up to substituted

Heteroannulations of cyanoacetamide-based MCR scaffolds utilizing formamide

• Marios Zingiridis,
• Danae Papachristodoulou,
• Despoina Menegaki,
• Konstantinos G. Froudas and
• Constantinos G. Neochoritis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 217–225, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.13

• be established as a C1 feedstock. [25]. Its high polarity and dielectric constant (it is miscible with water) [26], with the ability to solubilize a wide range of reagents, from salts to polymers, proteins and saccharides, renders formamide an excellent C1 building block [25][27]. Thus, our target

Dioxazolones as electrophilic amide sources in copper-catalyzed and -mediated transformations

• Seungmin Lee,
• Minsuk Kim,
• Hyewon Han and
• Jongwoo Son

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 200–216, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.12

• leads to the formation of the N-acyl amidine product 10. 1.4 N-Arylation of dioxazolones Amides bearing N-substituents are key structural motifs in a wide range of polymers [82], natural products [83], and pharmaceuticals [84][85]. Conventional synthetic routes for N-arylamides typically involve the