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

• performing the reaction under visible light irradiation, or coupling the reaction to other light-induced processes to produce new classes of products. In 2018, Aitken and co-workers reported a synthesis of previously unknown tricyclic 4:4:4 oxetanes 73 through a photochemical triple cascade reaction starting

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

• ambient temperature and visible-light irradiation, achieving site-selective bromination (products 94–96) in 51–99% yields across electronically differentiated positions. The system's operational mildness and functional group tolerance highlight its suitability for late-stage functionalization of complex

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

• ), the process involves the homolytic cleavage of Umemoto's reagent 39 under visible light irradiation, releasing a trifluoromethyl radical 42. The radical then adds to the double bond of N-arylacrylamide, forming intermediate radical 43. Subsequently, this intermediate undergoes intramolecular

Recent advances in synthetic approaches for bioactive cinnamic acid derivatives

• Betty A. Kustiana,
• Galuh Widiyarti and
• Teni Ernawati

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1031–1086, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.85

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

• biocompatibility. The electrochemical properties of such materials have been then evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). For all the properties mentioned above, CDs emerged as low-cost and sustainable photocatalysts. Indeed, upon visible-light irradiation, the generated excited state CD* can operate as either

Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed multicomponent reactions

• Sara Colombo,
• Camilla Loro,
• Egle M. Beccalli,
• Gianluigi Broggini and
• Marta Papis

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 122–145, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.7

• and sulfur dioxide afforded vinyl sulfones with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity (Scheme 9) [22]. The authors used DABCO(SO2)2 to generate sulfur dioxide, and visible light irradiation and the mandatory presence of a photocatalyst for this transformation suggested a radical mechanism. The

Cyclodextrin-based rotaxanes for polymer materials: challenge on simultaneous realization of inexpensive production and defined structures

• Yosuke Akae

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3026–3049, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.252

• visible-light irradiation or heating, CD was moved back to the azobenzene moiety, and the entire process was reversible. This system was further developed in 2005 by introducing bipyridinium moieties to implement the selective transfer of the wheel via heating or light irradiation (Figure 5B) [57]. During

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

• photocatalytic system under visible light irradiation (443 nm) [56]. Peroxidation of β-ketoesters, cyanoacetic esters, and malonic esters 37 was performed using the TBAI/TBHP system (Scheme 15) [57]. The highest product yields in the TBAI-catalyzed peroxidation were achieved with malonic acid esters, in contrast

• recombination of radicals F and D leads to the product 67. Photochemical peroxidation of isochromans and other benzylic C(sp3)–H substrates 68 with TBHP was developed using Ir(ppy)3 as the photocatalyst and Bronsted acid as an additive (Scheme 25) [68]. Visible light irradiation of [IrIII(ppy)3] to give the

• –peroxidation of alkenes 155 with TBHP and aldehydes 156 through visible-light photocatalysis was developed using fac-Ir(ppy)3 as the photoredox catalyst (Scheme 49) [113]. Under visible light irradiation, the excited state Ir(III)* is generated, and the single electron transfer of Ir(III)* with TBHP results in

Interaction of a pyrene derivative with cationic [60]fullerene in phospholipid membranes and its effects on photodynamic actions

• Hayato Takagi,
• Çetin Çelik,
• Ryosuke Fukuda,
• Qi Guo,
• Tomohiro Higashino,
• Hiroshi Imahori,
• Yoko Yamakoshi and
• Tatsuya Murakami

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2732–2738, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.231

• Instutite for Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan 10.3762/bjoc.20.231 Abstract We have reported that upon visible light irradiation, ferrocene-porphyrin-[60]fullerene triad molecules yield long-lived charge-separated states, enabling the control of the plasma

• light irradiation [7], with the C60 species becoming negatively charged while the ferrocene moiety became positively charged (Figure 1a). This charge-separated state can be used to initiate nanoscale electric fields, e.g., Vm. The design of the triad molecules may also help to keep their orientation

• from a difference in electric charge on the two sides of the plasma membrane (approximately 5 nm thickness), with a slight excess of the positive ions inside relative to the negative ions outside. Our ferrocene-porphyrin-C60 triad molecule exhibited long-lived charge-separated states under visible

Synthesis of spiroindolenines through a one-pot multistep process mediated by visible light

• Francesco Gambuti,
• Jacopo Pizzorno,
• Chiara Lambruschini,
• Renata Riva and
• Lisa Moni

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2722–2731, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.230

• isocyanide without the presence of a catalyst. In order to establish the role of GO we carried out the 3C Ugi-type reaction starting from iminium ion 1a, freshly prepared by visible light irradiation in the presence of bromochloroform [28]. This protocol resulted quite convenient as can be conducted under

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis

• Akiya Ogawa and
• Yuki Yamamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2114–2128, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.182

• , when using sunlight, which is an inexhaustible natural energy, it is expected to be the most environmentally friendly method. The homolysis of E–E upon visible light irradiation is induced by exciting one electron of the isolated electron pair on E to the anti-bonding orbital of the E–E-bond (σ

• not proceed at all for normal isocyanides, but for aromatic isocyanides with electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) such as p-NO2, p-CF3, p-CN, p-Cl, and m-MeO, the desired thiotelluration reaction proceeded under visible light irradiation to successfully afford the corresponding thiotelluration products 4

• ][65][66]. The iodoperfluoroalkylation with radical cyclization of ortho-diisocyanoarenes proceeded efficiently by using AIBN as initiator or using a hexabutyldistannane under visible light irradiation to afford the quinoxaline derivative 25 in good yields (Scheme 18a) [63]. At the same time, a similar

Understanding X-ray-induced isomerisation in photoswitchable surfactant assemblies

• Beatrice E. Jones,
• Camille Blayo,
• Jake L. Greenfield,
• Matthew J. Fuchter,
• Nathan Cowieson and
• Rachel C. Evans

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2005–2015, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.176

• ]. In addition to this, AAPTAB has a high thermal half-life at room temperature (5.7 years [19]), meaning there is no significant contribution from thermal Z–E isomerisation over the course of these experiments. Using in-situ UV- and visible-light irradiation with SAXS, here we measure the intermediate

Supramolecular assemblies of amphiphilic donor–acceptor Stenhouse adducts as macroscopic soft scaffolds

• Ka-Lung Hung,
• Leong-Hung Cheung,
• Yikun Ren,
• Ming-Hin Chau,
• Yan-Yi Lam,
• Takashi Kajitani and
• Franco King-Chi Leung

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1590–1603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.142

• revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Upon visible-light irradiation, significant transformations of the DA geometry enabled transformations of the supramolecular assemblies on a microscopic scale, subsequently disassembling macroscopic soft scaffolds of DAs. The current work shows promising use for the

• systematically by visible light irradiation. On a macroscopic length scale, the soft DAn scaffolds were able to perform macroscopic structure disassembly upon visible-light irradiation. The biocompatibility of the macroscopic soft DAn scaffolds was investigated, revealing limited cytotoxicity. The current work

• Macroscopic soft scaffolds of DAn were shown to have an excellent structural stability and to undergo supramolecular transformations through visible light. A macroscopic DA11 soft scaffold was monitored over the course of visible-light irradiation under an optical microscope. At the start, a deep-blue string

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

• pioneering report in 2013 that used photocatalyst 9-fluorenone under visible-light irradiation to generate a photoexcited aryl ketone, capable of HAT to promote benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor (Figure 23) [69]. The reaction tolerated an exceptional range of functional groups and enabled the

• disclosed the use of catalytic amounts of the organic dye Acr+-Mes under visible-light irradiation in combination with stoichiometric amounts of Selectfluor to achieve benzylic fluorination (Figure 29) [74]. It was proposed that a SET between Selectfluor and the photoexcited catalyst liberated fluoride and

Electrophotochemical metal-catalyzed synthesis of alkylnitriles from simple aliphatic carboxylic acids

• Yukang Wang,
• Yan Yao and
• Niankai Fu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1497–1503, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.133

• esters, the so called "Barton esters", for decarboxylative cyanation of aliphatic acids with tosyl cyanide as the nitrile source under visible light irradiation at room temperature [21][22]. Although two synthetic steps are required, this is the first practical decarboxylative cyanation protocol because

• by anodic oxidation and visible light irradiation of the Ce species in a sequential fashion [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. Therefore, the anodic electrode potential for this process could be substantially reduced. In doing so, a low working potential at the anode offers the opportunity for

Synthesis of 4-functionalized pyrazoles via oxidative thio- or selenocyanation mediated by PhICl₂ and NH₄SCN/KSeCN

• Jialiang Wu,
• Haofeng Shi,
• Xuemin Li,
• Jiaxin He,
• Chen Zhang,
• Fengxia Sun and
• Yunfei Du

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1453–1461, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.128

• presented a method for the C–H thiocyanation of pyrazoles by using a sustainable catalyst of graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) under visible light irradiation (Scheme 1c) [2]. Furthermore, Yao harnessed an electrochemical approach to form the electrophilic SCN+ intermediate, which reacted with

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

• directly activated via photoredox catalysis. In 2018, Doyle and co-workers [54] documented a catalytic method for the deoxygenation of benzylic alcohols to toluenes, utilizing phosphines and photoredox catalyst under visible-light irradiation (Scheme 18). In this method, they were able to synthesize

• directly access acyl or alkyl radicals from carboxylic acids or alcohols, thereby eliminating the need for an extra step. As a result, such methods are continuously gaining popularity. This review delves into the current state of deoxygenation processes, focusing on techniques that use visible-light

• irradiation to harness the reactivity of alcohols and acids both upon derivatization and through direct use. By exploring recent advancements in deoxygenation reactions and the design of potential reactants, we aim to give an overview of the diverse strategies that highlight the unique reaction design and

Transition-metal-catalyst-free electroreductive alkene hydroarylation with aryl halides under visible-light irradiation

• Kosuke Yamamoto,
• Kazuhisa Arita,
• Masami Kuriyama and
• Osamu Onomura

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1327–1333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.116

• conditions. The key to success is the use of 1,3-dicyanobenzene as a redox mediator and visible-light irradiation, which effectively suppresses the formation of simple reduction, i.e., hydrodehalogenation, products to afford the desired products in good to high yields. Mechanistic investigations proposed

• ][53]. Furthermore, odd-numbered [n]cumulenes have proven to be effective redox mediators for electroreductive radical borylation of unactivated aryl chlorides without visible-light irradiation by the group of Milner [54]. Herein, we report transition-metal-catalyst-free electroreductive alkene

• hydroarylation with (hetero)aryl halides using 1,3-dicyanobenzene as a redox mediator under visible-light irradiation. Results and Discussion We began the investigation of the electroreductive hydroarylation using methyl 4-chlorobenzoate (1a) and methyl acrylate (2a) as model substrates (Table 1). After

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble C₆₀–peptide conjugates

• Yue Ma,
• Lorenzo Persi and
• Yoko Yamakoshi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 777–786, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.71

• most other solvents. C60–oligo-Lys and C60–oligo-Glu were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR. Photoinduced 1O2 generation was observed in the most soluble C60–oligo-Lys conjugate under visible light irradiation (527 nm) to show the potential of this highly water-soluble molecule in biological systems, for

• the HRESIMS results (Figure S2, Supporting Information File 1), it was confirmed that the highly water-soluble compound 5a was successfully synthesized. 1O2 generation under visible light irradiation To preliminarily evaluate the synthesized C60–oligo-Lys (5a) as a PS, generation of singlet oxygen was

• measured by the ESR spin trapping method under irradiation of visible light (527 nm green LED). 4-Oxo-TEMP was used as a spin trapping reagent to form an adduct with 1O2, i.e., 4-oxo-TEMPO, which was observed by ESR (Figure 7b). As shown in Figure 7a, upon visible light irradiation, three peaks

Green and sustainable approaches for the Friedel–Crafts reaction between aldehydes and indoles

• Periklis X. Kolagkis,
• Eirini M. Galathri and
• Christoforos G. Kokotos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 379–426, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.36

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

• readers to recently published review articles for additional discussion [30][31]. Discussion Mechanism under photochemical conditions In this section we provide a summary of the various conditions and activation modes employed in radical reactions of NHPI esters using visible-light irradiation. Upon

• type addition reactions (Scheme 4A). In 1991, Okada and co-workers reported the addition of alkyl radicals to α,β-unsaturated ketones, by subjecting NHPI esters to visible-light irradiation in the presence of the photocatalyst [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 and the reductant 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) [37

• ], have been employed as suitable photocatalysts (Scheme 4B). Under visible light irradiation the photocatalyst (PC) is excited into its corresponding excited state (*PC), where it can be reduced by a suitable electron donor such as DIPEA or Hantzsch ester to generate the reduced form of the photocatalyst

Visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization: a catalyst-free synthetic approach to trifluoromethylated heterocycles

• Chuan Yang,
• Wei Shi,
• Jian Tian,
• Lin Guo,
• Yating Zhao and
• Wujiong Xia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 118–124, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.12

• 450 nm visible light irradiation is optimal (Table 1, entries 9–12). Furthermore, various types of Umemoto’s reagent were also screened (Table 1, entries 13–15). As Umemoto’s reagent 2b was easier to prepare [29] and the use of 2b did not significantly affect the reaction yield, it was chosen as the

• room temperature without additives. Mechanistic investigations support a photochemical process initiated by the homolysis of Umemoto's reagent under visible light irradiation. This method provides rapid access to a diverse range of trifluoromethylated dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indolone derivatives in

• room temperature for 12 hours under visible light irradiation (450 nm). After completion, the reaction mixture was concentrated, and the crude product was purified by column chromatography to afford the desired dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indolone product. Representative dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indolone

Recent advancements in iodide/phosphine-mediated photoredox radical reactions

• Tinglan Liu,
• Yu Zhou,
• Junhong Tang and
• Chengming Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1785–1803, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.131

• -anion catalysis under visible light irradiation, as depicted in Scheme 9. Subsequent investigations revealed that redox-active esters 3 and Katritzky salts 15 derived from amino acids could be effectively employed in decarboxylative/deaminative cross-coupling reactions [15]. These reactions enabled the

Selective and scalable oxygenation of heteroatoms using the elements of nature: air, water, and light

• Damiano Diprima,
• Hannes Gemoets,
• Stefano Bonciolini and
• Koen Van Aken

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1146–1154, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.82

• increase the concentration from 0.06 M to 0.6 M (Table 1, entry 7) maintaining approximately the same reaction time, while further concentration increase resulted in substantially slower kinetics (see Supporting Information File 1, Table S2). When performing the reaction in the dark or under visible light

• irradiation (e.g., at 405 or 455 nm) no conversion was observed (Table 1, entries 8 and 9). Finally, the effect of the light intensity was investigated irradiating at 365 nm and it turned out to largely effect the kinetic of the reaction (see Supporting Information File 1, Figure S3). In general, the presence

Photoredox catalysis enabling decarboxylative radical cyclization of γ,γ-dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) derivatives: formal synthesis of 6,7-secoagroclavine

• Alessio Regni,
• Francesca Bartoccini and
• Giovanni Piersanti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 918–927, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.70

• of all ergot alkaloids, specifically the decarboxylative cyclization of DMAT, is still a puzzle even though a radical mechanism has been proposed (Figure 1a) [72][73]. Results and Discussion Herein, we propose that visible light irradiation of the cationic iridium photocatalyst Ir[dF(CF3)ppy]2(dtbbpy

• visible-light irradiation of the photoredox catalyst [Ir(dF(CF3)ppy)2(dtbpy)]PF6 to access the excited state *[Ir(dF(CF3)ppy)2(dtbpy)]PF6, which can trigger SET oxidation of 8. Rapid decarboxylation leads to α-amino radical V (and the reduced photocatalyst), which is intercepted by the pendant double bond