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

• transformations of carbonyl substrates with umpolung processes of aldehydes such as the benzoin condensation and Stetter reaction being particularly well studied [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. In these processes, addition of the NHC to the aldehyde followed by proton transfer generates the enamine-like Breslow

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

• concentration of the photoswitch in solution: when MeOH or water are present, the lifetimes drop significantly, and particularly at pH 4, as consequence of more favourable intermolecular proton transfer. Calculations show that water molecules bridging between two Z-isomers favour the formation of hydrazone and

• , which characterises this subclass with negative photochromism. Unsubstituted indigo (60) does not undergo photochemical isomerisation, due to much faster relaxation through excited-state proton transfer 60* followed by tautomerisation 60’ (Scheme 17). The first proof of the existence of Z-indigo was

• mono-N-substituted indigos which were also able to isomerise, despite the presence of one hydrogen atom, capable of proton transfer. Only rather electron-neutral substituents show photoswitching to some extent, and the thermal half-lives are, in general, very short. Interestingly, low amounts of water

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

• solution as a mixture of azo and two hydrazone tautomers, as shown by the experimental and theoretical results, upon irradiation switching, based on long-range proton transfer, occurs in a limited extent. 8-(4-Hydroxy-1,2,3,5-tetrafluorophenyldiazenyl)quinolin-7-ol exists as a single enol (azo) tautomer

• stabilization of the azo tautomer and making possible long range proton transfer to the quinolyl nitrogen atom. Keywords: azo dyes; E/Z isomerization; DFT; NMR; photochemistry; proton transfer; tautomerism; UV–vis; Introduction Azo compounds have long been utilized as dyes in industries such as textiles

• molecules good candidates for molecular switches [50]. Recently, we have developed a series of 7-hydroxyquinoline Schiff bases, where the tautomeric proton transfer causes intramolecular twisting upon irradiation [51]. The process happens in the excited state and the competition between proton transfer and

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

• oxygen and a subsequent proton transfer affords the aromatic heterocycle. The authors also devised a modification to this procedure for olefin precursors which were difficult to prepare: this alternative uses cross-aldol adducts 180 between 3-oxetanone and a ketone, and the ring opening and dehydration

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

• it into the byproduct 46 and generating a carbon-centered radical 62. Species 62 is trapped by heteroarene 60, leading to the formation of the intermediate 63. This intermediate 63 undergoes SET and proton transfer with the assistance of O-anion 64 and the Br-5CzBN+• radical cation, delivering the

• carbanion, which undergoes either solvent-mediated protonation or direct proton transfer from the acridiniumamide, ultimately delivering product 89 while regenerating the zwitterionic HRP-12 catalyst. This catalytic platform demonstrated exceptional site selectivity in aliphatic C–H bromination under

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

• activated alkyne in an endo-dig fashion, forming a 7-membered ring. The resulting intermediate B undergoes proton transfer from the second pyrazole nitrogen to the vinyl silver moiety yielding pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,4]diazepine 16a and regenerating the silver catalyst. Methylation of either pyrazole nitrogen

• atom prevents the reaction by blocking the nucleophilic attack on the triple bond or the subsequent proton transfer step, thereby preventing substrates 15y and 15z from undergoing the described heteroannulation. Additionally, the alternative carbocyclization pathway cannot occur, as the vacant 4C

Recent advances in controllable/divergent synthesis

• Jilei Cao,
• Leiyang Bai and
• Xuefeng Jiang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 890–914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.73

• via a proton transfer promoted by diisopropylethylamine. In 2023, the Jiang research group achieved a chemically divergent photocatalytic asymmetric synthesis using a dual catalytic system consisting of a chiral phosphoric acid and dicyanopyrazine (DPZ) as the photosensitizer (Scheme 20) [49]. By

4-(1-Methylamino)ethylidene-1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine-2,3-diones: synthesis, anti-inflammatory effect and in silico approaches

• Nguyen Tran Nguyen,
• Vo Viet Dai,
• Luc Van Meervelt,
• Do Thi Thao and
• Nguyen Minh Thong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 817–829, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.65

• forms 3a’–e’ will be attacked by methylamine (4) to yield the tetrahedral intermediate 6 and then, the intramolecular proton transfer will lead to intermediate 7. It has been proven that Schiff’ bases show normally higher reactivity than the corresponding carbonyl compounds towards nitrogen-containing

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

• subsequent opening of the furanone ring and proton transfer results in final compounds 8, 10 and 11. The synthetic application of obtained pyrazolones 8 was demonstrated by its further derivatization. The interaction with electrophilic agents is determined by the presence of several nucleophilic centers in

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

• , enthalpically stabilizing the rate-limiting attack of alcohol by 7.3 kcal/mol. The highly ordered transition state in this example, thought to prevent charge buildup through a concerted/synchronous proton-transfer mechanism between bifunctional acid units, highlights a key design criteria differing from the

Synthesis, structure, ionochromic and cytotoxic properties of new 2-(indolin-2-yl)-1,3-tropolones

• Yurii A. Sayapin,
• Eugeny A. Gusakov,
• Inna O. Tupaeva,
• Alexander D. Dubonosov,
• Igor V. Dorogan,
• Valery V. Tkachev,
• Anna S. Goncharova,
• Gennady V. Shilov,
• Natalia S. Kuznetsova,
• Svetlana Y. Filippova,
• Tatyana A. Krasnikova,
• Yanis A. Boumber,
• Alexey Y. Maksimov,
• Sergey M. Aldoshin and
• Vladimir I. Minkin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 358–368, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.26

• the 7,8 (OH) form and is caused by the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process due to intramolecular O→N proton migration in the singlet excited state [26][27]. The ionochromic sensitivity of compounds 7a,b and 8a,b to anions was investigated in acetonitrile upon addition of tetra

Recent advances in electrochemical copper catalysis for modern organic synthesis

• Yemin Kim and
• Won Jun Jang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 155–178, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.9

• pair (AQDS•−, 20•+) then generate a benzylic radical 23 and a semiquinone radical ([AQDS–H]•) through proton transfer. The benzylic radical intermediate 23 subsequently reacts with the chiral copper catalyst L3Cu(II)(CN)2 (25) to form a Cu(III) complex 26, which undergoes reductive elimination to

• bromine radical attack that leads to the formation of a cationic brominated copper complex 77. Anodic oxidation and subsequent proton transfer provide the desired product 73 and regenerate the copper catalyst. Olefin addition Hydrofunctionalization and difunctionalization of alkenes are valuable methods

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

• ring in 159. Based on these findings, a potential reaction pathway was proposed. It starts with a chiral phosphoric acid-supported dehydration of 160 and reaction with the favored configuration of bisindoles 159 to form an allene intermediate Int-38. Proton transfer and subsequent intramolecular

Advances in the use of metal-free tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as catalysts

• Mandeep K. Chahal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3085–3112, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.257

• second-sphere interactions with a multipoint hydrogen-bonding pattern enhance CO2 reduction in organic solvents, improving stability, facilitating proton transfer, reducing energy barriers, and increasing selectivity [20]. Apart from advances in synthetic methodologies [2][21][22][23], the exploration of

Advances in radical peroxidation with hydroperoxides

• Oleg V. Bityukov,
• Pavel Yu. Serdyuchenko,
• Andrey S. Kirillov,
• Gennady I. Nikishin,
• Vera A. Vil’ and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2959–3006, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.249

• the hydrogen atom from TBHP to form the tert-butylperoxy radical (stage D). Next, tert-butylperoxy radical adds to the enol double bond of 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone 21 (step E). Further oxidation of the resulting C-centered radical I into cation II and the proton transfer results in the target product

Synthesis of fluorinated acid-functionalized, electron-rich nickel porphyrins

• Mike Brockmann,
• Jonas Lobbel,
• Lara Unterriker and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2954–2958, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.248

• electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions, a proton source is needed [11]. In this context, trifluoroacetic acid is very frequently chosen as the proton source, because it is a strong acid but just not strong enough to destroy (demetallate) the Ni porphyrin [10]. Covalent attachment of acids facilitates proton

• transfer and increases the efficiency [12]. Three conditions should be met for the target porphyrins of this study. 1. The acid covalently bound to the porphyrin should have an acid strength similar to trifluoroacetic acid. 2. The length of the tether with which the acid group is bound should be sufficient

Computational design for enantioselective CO₂ capture: asymmetric frustrated Lewis pairs in epoxide transformations

• Maxime Ferrer,
• Iñigo Iribarren,
• Tim Renningholtz,
• Ibon Alkorta and
• Cristina Trujillo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2668–2681, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.224

• H2 over CO2 becomes crucial for effective CO2 reduction [7]. Additionally, the strength of the interaction between the catalyst and the resulting system after hydride transfer presents a limitation. The formation of a robust LA–oxygen interaction may impede proton transfer to the basic oxygen atom

Asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of chiral homoallylic amines

• Nikolay S. Kondratyev and
• Andrei V. Malkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2349–2377, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.201

• of the analogous nucleophilic addition of cyanide was reported by Chen and Qiao [38] in 2023 (Figure 4). The calculations revealed that ΔG profile for the reaction pathway via 76, in which the imine molecule is activated by the direct chiral proton transfer from the COBI ion and then later attacked

The Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction in its maturity: innovation and improvements since its 21st birthday (2019–2023)

• Cristina Martini,
• Muhammad Idham Darussalam Mardjan and
• Andrea Basso

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1839–1879, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.162

• . Sashidhara et al. reported no conversion, while Liu et al. reported a 58% yield of the GBB product, postulating the ability of ethylene glycol to function as an activator (through hydrogen bonding) and a facilitator of proton transfer. After this discovery, ethylene glycol has never been employed in GBB

Benzylic C(sp³)–H fluorination

• Alexander P. Atkins,
• Alice C. Dean and
• Alastair J. J. Lennox

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1527–1547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.137

• in the concerted transfer of an electron and a proton from the benzylic substrate resulting in the benzylic radical II – pathway [A] [67]. This radical can also be accessed via sequential oxidative single-electron-transfer (SET) and proton-transfer (PT) steps (pathway [B]), or concerted proton

• of a host of functional groups [68]. This approach can also be applied for nucleophilic fluorination of benzylic substrates. This occurs via sequential electron-transfer and proton-transfer steps, as outlined in Figure 35 [87]. Single-electron oxidation of benzylic substrate I at the anode generates

• radical cation II. The acidity of benzylic protons is augmented after oxidation of the adjacent π-system, facilitating rapid proton transfer at this position, resulting in benzylic radical III [13][88]. Single-electron oxidation of the resulting benzylic radical is facile and expected to occur readily

Generation of alkyl and acyl radicals by visible-light photoredox catalysis: direct activation of C–O bonds in organic transformations

• Mithu Roy,
• Bitan Sardar,
• Itu Mallick and
• Dipankar Srimani

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1348–1375, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.119

• the thiyl radical by [Ir(II)] generates a thiolate anion and [Ir(III)]. Finally, the thiolate anion is converted to the aryl thiol via proton transfer to complete the catalytic cycle. In 2021, MacMillan and co-workers [55] introduced a cross-coupling reaction of alcohols with aryl halides through

Ligand effects, solvent cooperation, and large kinetic solvent deuterium isotope effects in gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroamination

• Ruichen Lan,
• Brock Yager,
• Yoonsun Jee,
• Cynthia S. Day and
• Amanda C. Jones

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 479–496, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.43

• ]. Protic additives are widely accepted to “facilitate proton transfer,” but they can also influence the aggregation of charged intermediates. Most mechanistic discussions incorporate protodeauration of alkylgold intermediates and consider a continuum from rate or enantio-determining nucleophilic attack

• /protodeauration paradigm for gold catalysis, we propose the data is also consistent with a mechanism involving gold-mediated tautomerization to release a proton, and concerted nucleophilic attack/proton transfer to the alkene (Scheme 2). Substrate effects: Substrate trends in 5-exo-trig alkene hydroamination may

• deviating from classic π-activation. Solvent effects that subtly impact solubility and proton transfer processes are likely to mask the impact of individual mechanistic steps involving gold and are not adequate to distinguish between the contrasting mechanisms under consideration here (Scheme 1 vs Scheme 2

Mechanisms for radical reactions initiating from N-hydroxyphthalimide esters

• Carlos R. Azpilcueta-Nicolas and
• Jean-Philip Lumb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 346–378, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.35

• hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) or sequential electron transfer and proton transfer (ET/PT) steps. Alternatively, redox-neutral transformations can be envisioned using catalytic reductants, which can enable a complementary scope of downstream functionalizations (Scheme 2B). In this perspective, we present an

• CO2. Radical 12 undergoes intermolecular addition to the olefin acceptor 13 to form radical intermediate 14. Finally, under reductive conditions radical 14 can undergo hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) or sequential electron transfer and proton transfer (ET/PT) to form the conjugate addition product 15

• ester (complex 68). This process delivers substrate radical 9 and nicotinyl radical 69 following proton transfer to the phthalimidyl anion. Then, addition of 9 to α,β-unsaturated ester 70 yields radical intermediate 71. At this stage, HAT mediated by another equivalent of BuNAH delivers product 72, with

Substitution reactions in the acenaphthene analog of quino[7,8-h]quinoline and an unusual synthesis of the corresponding acenaphthylenes by tele-elimination

• Ekaterina V. Kolupaeva,
• Narek A. Dzhangiryan,
• Alexander F. Pozharskii,
• Oleg P. Demidov and
• Valery A. Ozeryanskii

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 243–253, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.24

• 3.353 Å). Interestingly, as the acidity of the neighboring component in the crystal structure and the degree of proton transfer from it to the nitrogen atoms of quinoquinoline 5 decrease, the internitrogen distance regularly increases (N…N, Å): 2.709 (HCl), 2.808 (4,6-dichlororesorcinol), 2.813–2.835

Photochromic derivatives of indigo: historical overview of development, challenges and applications

• Gökhan Kaplan,
• Zeynel Seferoğlu and
• Daria V. Berdnikova

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 228–242, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.23

• , indigo exists in a planar E-form, which is more stable than the overcrowded and non-planar Z-form (Figure 6a) [23]. Irradiation of E-indigo, however, does not result in the photoisomerization into the Z-form due to the rapid proton transfer occurring in the excited state (ESPT) from the N atom towards

• the O atom (Figure 6b). Moreover, the data of the first systematic computational ab initio study of the molecular mechanism of the photostability of indigo [36] support these findings and additionally point out that the single proton transfer (SPT) is more favorable than the double proton transfer

• compounds [66]. It was shown that despite the prerequisites for the occurrence of the excited-state proton transfer, monoarylated indigos underwent E–Z photoisomerization upon red-light irradiation at 625 nm. Remarkably, the thermal half-life of the Z-isomer of compound 20b was sensitive to the presence of