Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the cardenolide rhodexin A and its aglycone sarmentogenin

• Fuzhen Song,
• Mengmeng Zheng,
• Dongkai Wang,
• Xudong Qu and
• Qianghui Zhou

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2637–2644, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.204

• reactive C17 side chain including an α-hydroxycarbonyl group, a set of side reactions (e.g., reduction of the C20 carbonyl, hydrogenation of Δ4 and Δ14 double bonds, etc.) occurred under the Mukaiyama hydration conditions [30][31]. Therefore, it was necessary to alter the side chain before installing the

Thiazolidinones: novel insights from microwave synthesis, computational studies, and potentially bioactive hybrids

• Luan A. Martinho,
• Victor H. J. G. Praciano,
• Guilherme D. R. Matos,
• Claudia C. Gatto and
• Carlos Kleber Z. Andrade

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2618–2636, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.203

• chosen as model substrates, and various parameters were systematically screened under microwave heating. Microwave-assisted reactions usually improve selectivities and yields, while significantly reduce reaction times. This approach has consistently yielded positive results in our research group (Table 1

• ) [63]. Glacial acetic acid (AcOH) was initially selected as a hydrophilic (polar) protic solvent due to its high dipole moment, which makes it ideal for microwave reactions, as well as its ability to facilitate simple work-up procedures by simple addition of water [64]. Using sodium acetate (NaOAc) as

• disubstitution processes involving sulfur-to-nitrogen displacement, likely promoted by the nucleophilic character of the amine. These limitations are likely due to the reaction conditions employed, including the high temperature and acidic environment, which may favor side reactions over the desired

Efficient solid-phase synthesis and structural characterization of segetalins A–H, J and K

• Liangyu Liu,
• Wanqiu Lu,
• Quanping Guo and
• Zhaoqing Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2612–2617, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.202

• against Gram-positive bacteria), will be conducted in our laboratory. Cyclization reactions to segetalins A–H, J and K. The CD spectra of segetalins A–H, J and K. Preparation of segetalins A–H, J and K. Preparation of linear peptides for segetalins A–H, J and K. Supporting Information Supporting

Silica gel with covalently attached bambusuril macrocycle for dicyanoaurate sorption from water

• Michaela Šusterová and
• Vladimír Šindelář

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2604–2611, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.201

• functionalized, for instance by carboxylic moieties [13], making them available for further reactions with different substrates. We have recently presented a material (SG-BnBU) based on silica gel containing dodecabenzylbambus[6]uril (BnBU) non-covalently bound on its surface [14]. We showed that this material

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

• asymmetric reactions and are functional transformations in synthetic organic chemistry. Especially, 1,2,3-triazole-based NHCs are generally more reactive and stronger σ-donors than imidazole or thiazole analogues. Triazolium NHC enhances their ability to stabilize reactive radical intermediates or acyl anion

• equivalents, which is crucial in dual or triple catalytic cycles. The electron-rich carbene center facilitates faster SET processes in photocatalytic reactions. Triazolium-based NHCs exhibit higher oxidative and photochemical stability, making them well-suited for visible-light-driven catalytic

• ], Enders [21], Rafinski [22], Scheidt [23], Connon [24], Chi [25], Milo [26][27], Gravel [28][29] and others [30]. These NHC-catalyzed developments have drastically improved the achievable diastereo- and enantioselectivity, including common named reactions such as benzoin reactions, Stetter reactions

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

• deprotection and oxidation of the secondary alcohol, yielded the cyclization precursor 35. A B(C6F5)3-catalyzed tandem Nazarov/ene cyclization of 35 provided the key spirocyclic intermediate 37. The tertiary alcohol was protected in situ with TESOTf to suppress retro-aldol side reactions. Notably, prior TES

• – particularly the critical reactions responsible for skeletal diversity – Yang and co-workers first introduced a comprehensive and detailed biosynthetic pathway for Illicium sesquiterpenes, with the route to illisimonin A depicted in Scheme 5. The transformations from farnesyl diphosphate to the allo-cedryl

Total syntheses of highly oxidative Ryania diterpenoids facilitated by innovations in synthetic strategies

• Zhi-Qi Cao,
• Jin-Bao Qiao and
• Yu-Ming Zhao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2553–2570, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.198

• diterpenoids; synthetic strategy; total synthesis; Introduction Organic synthesis, as a cornerstone of chemical research, is dedicated to constructing complex natural products or target molecules from simple and readily available starting materials via a series of precise and efficient chemical reactions

• pericyclic reactions [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44], to control the formation of the crucial C5 chiral center precisely. Subsequent oxidative cleavage of the carbon–carbon double bond introduced in the Diels–Alder reaction, followed by an intramolecular aldol reaction, efficiently

• the correct relative configuration undergoes hydrolysis of its spirocyclic lactone moiety under basic conditions to yield 13, establishing the critical C5 chiral center. Under acidic conditions, intermediate 13 undergoes ketal deprotection followed by successive intramolecular aldol reactions

Ni-promoted reductive cyclization cascade enables a total synthesis of (+)-aglacin B

• Si-Chen Yao,
• Jing-Si Cao,
• Jian Xiao,
• Ya-Wen Wang and
• Yu Peng

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2548–2552, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.197

• synthesis of both enantiomers of aglacins A (1), B (2), and E (4) by asymmetric photoenolization/Diels–Alder reactions as the key steps for the construction of the C7–C8 and C7′–C8′ bonds [8]. During the past decade, we had developed nickel-catalyzed or -promoted reductive coupling/cyclization reactions for

Pentacyclic aromatic heterocycles from Pd-catalyzed annulation of 1,5-diaryl-1,2,3-triazoles

• Kaylen D. Lathrum,
• Emily M. Hanneken,
• Katelyn R. Grzelak and
• James T. Fletcher

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2524–2534, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.194

• tandem approach preparing 7–12 ranged from 43–85%, which were similar to running the deprotection and cycloaddition reactions sequentially. Pd-catalyzed annulation using a modification of previously reported reaction conditions [46] under microwave irradiation instead of thermal heating converted 1,5

• -diaryl-1,2,3-triazoles 7–12 into target pentacyclic aromatic heterocycles 13–18. Yields of annulation reactions for naphthalene-containing analog 13 (90%) was appreciably higher than for quinoline and isoquinoline derivatives 14–18 (31–72%). Due to triazole subunit connectivity to the napththalene

• thermal heating conditions [46] was successful for preparing these compounds. Yields of annulation reactions for the naphthalene-containing analog 31 (65%) was once again appreciably higher than that of the quinoline and isoquinoline derivatives 32–36 (31–51%), but there appeared to be no significant

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

• microwave reactor with LCMS analysis, selecting for high conversion and minimal reaction time (Table 1). While high heat was originally feared to cause side reactions due to possible lability of the Fmoc and internal cyclization to form a piperazinone [39], it was discovered that the monomer was stable up

Effect of a photoswitchable rotaxane on membrane permeabilization across lipid compositions

• Udyogi N. K. Conthagamage,
• Lilia Lopez,
• Zuliah A. Abdulsalam and
• Víctor García-López

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2498–2512, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.192

• functional efficacy. Such optimized systems have significant potential for various applications, including controlled drug delivery and the targeted modulation of membrane properties in live cells for biotechnological and therapeutic use. Experimental All glassware used in chemical reactions was dried in an

• oven overnight before use. Reactions were conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere unless otherwise noted in the protocols. ACS-grade dichloromethane was employed for liquid–liquid extractions. Standard buffers, purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, were used for biophysical assays. Liposomes were prepared with

Assembly strategy for thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes via a disulfide intermediate derived from 3-nitrothiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate

• Roman A. Irgashev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2489–2497, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.191

• reactions, probably involving ester hydrolysis or alkylating agent decomposition, can be avoided by omitting the external base. In addition, Na2S2O4 was investigated as a reductant in a DMF/water 9:1 (v/v) mixture at room temperature (Table 2, entry 6). In the presence of both K2CO3 and the alkylating agent

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C1-selective nitration of carbazoles

• Vikash Kumar,
• Jyothis Dharaniyedath,
• Aiswarya T P,
• Sk Ariyan,
• Chitrothu Venkatesh and
• Parthasarathy Gandeepan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2479–2488, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.190

• ) functionalization of the carbazole core. Traditional approaches for constructing diversified carbazoles and derivatives are Fischer–Borsche synthesis [15][16], Graebe–Ullmann synthesis [17][18], cyclization of biaryl nitrenes–Cadogan synthesis [19], electrocyclic reactions [20][21], and others [22][23][24]. These

• methodologies are greatly limited due to harsh reaction conditions that impact the scope of the reaction, poor yield, and regioselectivity issues. In sharp contrast, transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions promisingly improve the regioselectivity issues and substrate scope [25][26][27][28]. In

• addition to cross-coupling reactions, transition metal-catalyzed cyclization involving C–H activation approaches have also been reported [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Despite the significant advances in carbazole core constructions, the established protocols significantly lack access to selectively C1

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

• involves a formal 1,3-C shift. Keywords: Aspidosperma alkaloids; [2 + 2]-cycloaddition/retro-Mannich reaction; DFT study; photoinduced electron transfer; Introduction Photochemical reactions, which enable the construction of topologically complex architectures from simple building blocks, have attracted

• current interest in the synthesis of complex natural products via photochemical reactions, we decided to achieve such an unusual bond cleavage (Figure 1a, path A) of cyclobutenone by generating a radical cation species via a PET reaction. The synthetic plan is shown in Figure 1c and includes a PET

Ex-situ generation of gaseous nitriles in two-chamber glassware for facile haloacetimidate synthesis

• Nikolai B. Akselvoll,
• Jonas T. Larsen and
• Christian M. Pedersen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2465–2469, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.188

• point = −64 °C). To minimize the setup needed and handling we decided to utilize the two-chamber reaction vessels introduced by Skrydstrup and co-workers [19], which were originally designed for use with carbon monoxide reactions [20] and are now commercially available under the tradename COware (Figure

• transformation of the peracetylated glucose hemiacetal 2 in the other chamber (B), giving 73% isolated yield of the corresponding acetimidate 6 (Figure 2). Similarly, the chlorodifluoroacetimidate 7 was synthesized in 79% yield. From these reactions it is clear that the less reactive (disarmed) peracetylated

• of trifluoroacetonitrile and our set-up using a two-chamber reactor. Glycosyl haloacetimidates synthesized using the two-chamber method. Synthesis of arylmethylene fluoroacetimidates using the two-chamber method. Reactions in chambers A and B. Chamber A: generation of the haloacetonitrile by

The intramolecular stabilizing effects of O-benzoyl substituents as a driving force of the acid-promoted pyranoside-into-furanoside rearrangement

• Alexey G. Gerbst,
• Sofya P. Nikogosova,
• Darya A. Rastrepaeva,
• Dmitry A. Argunov,
• Vadim B. Krylov and
• Nikolay E. Nifantiev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2456–2464, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.187

• equilibrium mixture (Figure 3A). Other two examples were the cases in which the isomerization to furanoside gave only minute quantities of product in the equilibrium or did not occur at all (Figure 3B and 3C). We used a DFT B3LYP-D3 approach to study possible driving forces of these reactions. First, the

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

• compounds can participate in asymmetric synthesis reactions and construct chiral molecules with specific stereoconfiguration, which is particularly critical for drug synthesis [9]. In the field of organic catalysis, chiral organic selenium-containing compounds can be used as chiral ligands or catalysts to

• participate in various types of asymmetric reactions, significantly improving the selectivity of reactions (Figure 1) [10][11][12][13][14]. Catalytic asymmetric synthesis is the main method to construct chiral organic selenium-containing compounds. Centrally chiral selenium-containing compounds can be

• axially chiral selenium-containing compounds by the formation of C–Se bonds is reviewed from three aspects. Review 1. Catalytic atroposelective synthesis of selenium-containing atropisomers by transition-metal-catalyzed C–H selenylation reactions Transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective C–H activation

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

• [7]. Syntheses of cyclopentanoids usually are based on cyclopentaannelation reactions: transformations accompanied by cyclization [8]; transformation of compounds containing a cyclopentane ring [9]; contraction of large cycles to cyclopentane derivatives. Ring contraction reactions are among the most

• and 51 showed high cytotoxic activity (IC50 1.38–15.91 μM). 2 Rearrangements with 1,2-carbon migration Rearrangements with 1,2-carbon migration are widely used in the synthesis of natural compounds [37]. These include benzilic acid and semipinacol-type rearrangements, reactions promoted by thallium

• –Crafts-type glucosylation reactions of 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-methylacetophenone (74) with glucosyl acetate 75 in the of presence Sc(OTf)3 (0.4 equiv) as a Lewis acid promoter and oxidative dearomatization of the C-glucoside precursor by O2 in the presence of pyridine in CH3OH. The key step in the acyloin

The high potential of methyl laurate as a recyclable competitor to conventional toxic solvents in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

• Ayhan Yıldırım and
• Mustafa Göker

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2389–2415, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.184

• context of these strategies, it would be judicious to consider cycloaddition reactions of the [3 + 2] type, a field in which Smith and Huisgen are recognized as pioneers [24][25]. In the field of heterocyclic chemistry, the [3 + 2] type of cycloaddition reaction is a widely employed method for the

• consisting of a combination of isoxazolidine rings [36][37][38][39][40][41]. It has been demonstrated that such cycloaddition reactions are also employed in the efficient preparation of biologically active molecules, including nucleosides, β-lactam class antibiotics, peptides, and amino acids, as well as

• sugars (Figure 1) [42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. More specifically cycloaddition reactions of nitrones (1,3-dipoles) with N-aryl-substituted maleimides (electron-poor dipolarophiles) are a highly popular and versatile method for the formation of regio- and stereoselective pyrrolo-isoxazolidine-fused ring

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

• categorized into two main approaches. The first involves cascade reactions featuring the formation of multiple bonds, including a pivotal spirocyclization step. However, these strategies typically require pre-functionalized starting materials and often result exclusively in substituted oxindoles. For example

Conformational effects on iodide binding: a comparative study of flexible and rigid carbazole macrocyclic analogs

• Guang-Wei Zhang,
• Yong Zhang,
• Le Shi,
• Chuang Gao,
• Hong-Yu Li and
• Lei Xue

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2369–2375, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.181

• ) and WDG (rigid fluorene backbone), were synthesized via Friedel–Crafts reactions. Their iodide (I−) recognition properties were systematically explored using 1H NMR, UV–vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis via the Benesi–Hildebrand equation and nonlinear fitting

Adaptive experimentation and optimization in organic chemistry

• Artur M. Schweidtmann and
• Philippe Schwaller

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2367–2368, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.180

• . provide a comprehensive review of machine learning applications in enantioselective organocatalysis, highlighting both achievements and remaining challenges [10]. Guo et al. present an automated flow chemistry system for nitration reactions, combining kinetic modeling with experimental optimization [11

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

• bulky stoppers at both ends to prevent dethreading (Figure 1) [1][8]. Functionalization of the axle with recognition sites allows the macrocycle to shuttle between positions in response to external stimuli, including light, redox, temperature, pH, and reactions with chemicals such as carbodiimides [9

• experimental and theoretical studies involving these rotaxanes showed that no side reactions occur upon excitation, meaning these compounds can be operated continuously under illumination with very little efficiency loss, making them very effective photoactive units in nanodevices. In 2005, Leigh and co

• delivery and microscale chemical reactions, by allowing the controlled merging of droplets containing different reactants without the need for traditional reaction vessels. Furthermore, Zhu and co-workers developed a rotaxane-based fluorescence switch in which photoinduced shuttling of the benzylic amide

Comparative analysis of complanadine A total syntheses

• Reem Al-Ahmad and
• Mingji Dai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2334–2344, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.178

• diastereomers) via either a creative “degradation” of the piperidine ring or cross-coupling reactions at the pyridine C3 position [29]. The Tsukano total synthesis – 2013 In 2013, Tsukano and co-workers reported their total synthesis of complanadines A and B (Scheme 4). Their synthesis utilizes a Diels–Alder

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

• Peng-Xi Luo Jin-Xuan Yang Shao-Min Fu Bo Liu College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China 10.3762/bjoc.21.177 Abstract In recent years, the Norrish–Yang cyclization and related photoredox reactions of dicarbonyls have been extensively utilized in

• natural product synthesis. This review summarizes the latest advancements in these reactions for constructing terpenoids, alkaloids, and antibiotics. Through Norrish–Yang cyclization, dicarbonyls (e.g., 1,2-diketones and α-keto amides) can efficiently construct sterically hindered ring structures, which

• can further undergo ring-opening or rearrangement reaction to assemble complex molecular frameworks. Additionally, quinone photoredox reactions involving single-electron transfer (SET) processes provide novel strategies for the stereoselective synthesis of useful structures such as spiroketals. This