Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1612–1704, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.165
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Various drugs having IP nucleus.
Figure 2: Participation percentage of various TMs for the syntheses of IPs.
Scheme 1: CuI–NaHSO4·SiO2-catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 2: Experimental examination of reaction conditions.
Scheme 3: One-pot tandem reaction for the synthesis of 2-haloimidazopyridines.
Scheme 4: Mechanistic scheme for the synthesis of 2-haloimidazopyridine.
Scheme 5: Copper-MOF-catalyzed three-component reaction (3-CR) for imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 6: Mechanism for copper-MOF-driven synthesis.
Scheme 7: Heterogeneous synthesis via titania-supported CuCl2.
Scheme 8: Mechanism involving oxidative C–H functionalization.
Scheme 9: Heterogeneous synthesis of IPs.
Scheme 10: One-pot regiospecific synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 11: Vinyl azide as an unprecedented substrate for imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 12: Radical pathway.
Scheme 13: Cu(I)-catalyzed transannulation approach for imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Scheme 14: Plausible radical pathway for the synthesis of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Scheme 15: A solvent-free domino reaction for imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 16: Cu-NPs-mediated synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 17: CuI-catalyzed synthesis of isoxazolylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 18: Functionalization of 4-bromo derivative via Sonogashira coupling reaction.
Scheme 19: A plausible reaction pathway.
Scheme 20: Cu(I)-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative C–H amidation reaction.
Scheme 21: One-pot synthetic reaction for imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.
Scheme 22: Plausible reaction mechanism.
Scheme 23: Cu(OAc)2-promoted synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 24: Mechanism for aminomethylation/cycloisomerization of propiolates with imines.
Scheme 25: Three-component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Figure 3: Scope of pyridin-2(1H)-ones and acetophenones.
Scheme 26: CuO NPS-promoted A3 coupling reaction.
Scheme 27: Cu(II)-catalyzed C–N bond formation reaction.
Scheme 28: Mechanism involving Chan–Lam/Ullmann coupling.
Scheme 29: Synthesis of formyl-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 30: A tandem sp3 C–H amination reaction.
Scheme 31: Probable mechanistic approach.
Scheme 32: Dual catalytic system for imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 33: Tentative mechanism.
Scheme 34: CuO/CuAl2O4/ᴅ-glucose-promoted 3-CCR.
Scheme 35: A tandem CuOx/OMS-2-based synthetic strategy.
Figure 4: Biomimetic catalytic oxidation in the presence of electron-transfer mediators (ETMs).
Scheme 36: Control experiment.
Scheme 37: Copper-catalyzed C(sp3)–H aminatin reaction.
Scheme 38: Reaction of secondary amines.
Scheme 39: Probable mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 40: Coupling reaction of α-azidoketones.
Scheme 41: Probable pathway.
Scheme 42: Probable mechanism with free energy calculations.
Scheme 43: MCR for cyanated IP synthesis.
Scheme 44: Substrate scope for the reaction.
Scheme 45: Reaction mechanism.
Scheme 46: Probable mechanistic pathway for Cu/ZnAl2O4-catalyzed reaction.
Scheme 47: Copper-catalyzed double oxidative C–H amination reaction.
Scheme 48: Application towards different coupling reactions.
Scheme 49: Reaction mechanism.
Scheme 50: Condensation–cyclization approach for the synthesis of 1,3-diarylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Scheme 51: Optimized reaction conditions.
Scheme 52: One-pot 2-CR.
Scheme 53: One-pot 3-CR without the isolation of chalcone.
Scheme 54: Copper–Pybox-catalyzed cyclization reaction.
Scheme 55: Mechanistic pathway catalyzed by Cu–Pybox complex.
Scheme 56: Cu(II)-promoted C(sp3)-H amination reaction.
Scheme 57: Wider substrate applicability for the reaction.
Scheme 58: Plausible reaction mechanism.
Scheme 59: CuI assisted C–N cross-coupling reaction.
Scheme 60: Probable reaction mechanism involving sp3 C–H amination.
Scheme 61: One-pot MCR-catalyzed by CoFe2O4/CNT-Cu.
Scheme 62: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 63: Synthetic scheme for 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 64: Plausible mechanism for CuBr-catalyzed reaction.
Scheme 65: Regioselective synthesis of halo-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 67: Synthesis of diarylated compounds.
Scheme 68: CuBr2-mediated one-pot two-component oxidative coupling reaction.
Scheme 69: Decarboxylative cyclization route to synthesize 1,3-diarylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Scheme 70: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 71: C–H functionalization reaction of enamines to produce diversified heterocycles.
Scheme 72: A plausible mechanism.
Scheme 73: CuI-promoted aerobic oxidative cyclization reaction of ketoxime acetates and pyridines.
Scheme 74: CuI-catalyzed pathway for the formation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.
Scheme 75: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 76: Mechanistic rationale for the synthesis of products.
Scheme 77: Copper-catalyzed synthesis of vinyloxy-IP.
Scheme 78: Regioselective product formation with propiolates.
Scheme 79: Proposed mechanism for vinyloxy-IP formation.
Scheme 80: Regioselective synthesis of 3-hetero-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with different reaction su...
Scheme 81: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 82: CuI-mediated synthesis of 3-formylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 83: Radical pathway for 3-formylated IP synthesis.
Scheme 84: Pd-catalyzed urea-cyclization reaction for IPs.
Scheme 85: Pd-catalyzed one-pot-tandem amination and intramolecular amidation reaction.
Figure 5: Scope of aniline nucleophiles.
Scheme 86: Pd–Cu-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction.
Scheme 87: One-pot amide coupling reaction for the synthesis of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines.
Scheme 88: Urea cyclization reaction for the synthesis of two series of pyridines.
Scheme 89: Amidation reaction for the synthesis of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines.
Figure 6: Amide scope.
Scheme 90: Pd NPs-catalyzed 3-component reaction for the synthesis of 2,3-diarylated IPs.
Scheme 91: Plausible mechanistic pathway for Pd NPs-catalyzed MCR.
Scheme 92: Synthesis of chromenoannulated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 93: Mechanism for the synthesis of chromeno-annulated IPs.
Scheme 94: Zinc oxide NRs-catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]azines/diazines.
Scheme 95: Zinc oxide-catalyzed isocyanide based GBB reaction.
Scheme 96: Reaction pathway for ZnO-catalyzed GBB reaction.
Scheme 97: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 98: ZnO NRs-catalyzed MCR for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]azines.
Scheme 99: Ugi type GBB three-component reaction.
Scheme 100: Magnetic NPs-catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 101: Regioselective synthesis of 2-alkoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines catalyzed by Fe-SBA-15.
Scheme 102: Plausible mechanistic pathway for the synthesis of 2-alkoxyimidazopyridine.
Scheme 103: Iron-catalyzed synthetic approach.
Scheme 104: Iron-catalyzed aminooxygenation reaction.
Scheme 105: Mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 106: Rh(III)-catalyzed double C–H activation of 2-substituted imidazoles and alkynes.
Scheme 107: Plausible reaction mechanism.
Scheme 108: Rh(III)-catalyzed non-aromatic C(sp2)–H bond activation–functionalization for the synthesis of imid...
Scheme 109: Reactivity and selectivity of different substrates.
Scheme 110: Rh-catalyzed direct C–H alkynylation by Li et al.
Scheme 111: Suggested radical mechanism.
Scheme 112: Scandium(III)triflate-catalyzed one-pot reaction and its mechanism for the synthesis of benzimidazo...
Scheme 113: RuCl3-assisted Ugi-type Groebke–Blackburn condensation reaction.
Scheme 114: C-3 aroylation via Ru-catalyzed two-component reaction.
Scheme 115: Regioselective synthetic mechanism.
Scheme 116: La(III)-catalyzed one-pot GBB reaction.
Scheme 117: Mechanistic approach for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 118: Synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine using LaMnO3 NPs under neat conditions.
Scheme 119: Mechanistic approach.
Scheme 120: One-pot 3-CR for regioselective synthesis of 2-alkoxy-3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 121: Formation of two possible products under optimization of the catalysts.
Scheme 122: Mechanistic strategy for NiFe2O4-catalyzed reaction.
Scheme 123: Two-component reaction for synthesizing imidazodipyridiniums.
Scheme 124: Mechanistic scheme for the synthesis of imidazodipyridiniums.
Scheme 125: CuI-catalyzed arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 126: Mechanism for arylation reaction.
Scheme 127: Cupric acetate-catalyzed double carbonylation approach.
Scheme 128: Radical mechanism for double carbonylation of IP.
Scheme 129: C–S bond formation reaction catalyzed by cupric acetate.
Scheme 130: Cupric acetate-catalyzed C-3 formylation approach.
Scheme 131: Control experiments for signifying the role of DMSO and oxygen.
Scheme 132: Mechanism pathway.
Scheme 133: Copper bromide-catalyzed CDC reaction.
Scheme 134: Extension of the substrate scope.
Scheme 135: Plausible radical pathway.
Scheme 136: Transannulation reaction for the synthesis of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Scheme 137: Plausible reaction pathway for denitrogenative transannulation.
Scheme 138: Cupric acetate-catalyzed C-3 carbonylation reaction.
Scheme 139: Plausible mechanism for regioselective C-3 carbonylation.
Scheme 140: Alkynylation reaction at C-2 of 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines.
Scheme 141: Two-way mechanism for C-2 alkynylation of 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines.
Scheme 142: Palladium-catalyzed SCCR approach.
Scheme 143: Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction.
Scheme 144: Reaction mechanism.
Scheme 145: A phosphine free palladium-catalyzed synthesis of C-3 arylated imidazopyridines.
Scheme 146: Palladium-mediated Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling reaction.
Figure 7: Structure of the ligands optimized.
Scheme 147: Palladium acetate-catalyzed direct arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 148: Palladium acetate-catalyzed mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 149: Palladium acetate-catalyzed regioselective arylation reported by Liu and Zhan.
Scheme 150: Mechanism for selective C-3 arylation of IP.
Scheme 151: Pd(II)-catalyzed alkenylation reaction with styrenes.
Scheme 152: Pd(II)-catalyzed alkenylation reaction with acrylates.
Scheme 153: A two way mechanism.
Scheme 154: Double C–H activation reaction catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2.
Scheme 155: Probable mechanism.
Scheme 156: Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling.
Scheme 157: Mechanistic cycle for decarboxylative arylation reaction.
Scheme 158: Ligand-free approach for arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 159: Mechanism for ligandless arylation reaction.
Scheme 160: NHC-Pd(II) complex assisted arylation reaction.
Scheme 161: C-3 arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with aryl bromides catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2.
Scheme 162: Pd(II)-catalyzed C-3 arylations with aryl tosylates and mesylates.
Scheme 163: CDC reaction for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 164: Plausible reaction mechanism for Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 165: Pd-catalyzed C–H amination reaction.
Scheme 166: Mechanism for C–H amination reaction.
Scheme 167: One-pot synthesis for 3,6-di- or 2,3,6-tri(hetero)arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.
Scheme 168: C–H/C–H cross-coupling reaction of IPs and azoles catalyzed by Pd(II).
Scheme 169: Mechanistic cycle.
Scheme 170: Rh-catalyzed C–H arylation reaction.
Scheme 171: Mechanistic pathway for C–H arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.
Scheme 172: Rh(III)-catalyzed double C–H activation of 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and alkynes.
Scheme 173: Rh(III)-catalyzed mechanistic pathway.
Scheme 174: Rh(III)-mediated oxidative coupling reaction.
Scheme 175: Reactions showing functionalization of the product obtained by the group of Kotla.
Scheme 176: Mechanism for Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction.
Scheme 177: Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation reaction.
Scheme 178: Mechanistic cycle.
Scheme 179: Annulation reactions of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and alkynes.
Scheme 180: Two-way reaction mechanism for annulations reaction.
Scheme 181: [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2-catalyzed C–C bond formation reaction.
Scheme 182: Reported reaction mechanism.
Scheme 183: Fe(III) catalyzed C-3 formylation approach.
Scheme 184: SET mechanism-catalyzed by Fe(III).
Scheme 185: Ni(dpp)Cl2-catalyzed KTC coupling.
Scheme 186: Pd-catalyzed SM coupling.
Scheme 187: Vanadium-catalyzed coupling of IP and NMO.
Scheme 188: Mechanistic cycle.
Scheme 189: Selective C3/C5–H bond functionalizations by mono and bimetallic systems.
Scheme 190: rGO-Ni@Pd-catalyzed C–H bond arylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.
Scheme 191: Mechanistic pathway for heterogeneously catalyzed arylation reaction.
Scheme 192: Zinc triflate-catalyzed coupling reaction of substituted propargyl alcohols.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2345–2366, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.179
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Schematic of common rotaxanes (left) and depiction of the macrocycle shuttling (right).
Figure 2: Structure of some common photoswitches integrated into rotaxanes.
Figure 3: Rotaxane with an acridane photoswitch on the axle modulates the translation of a CBQT4+ macrocycle ...
Figure 4: Hydrogel composed of [2]rotaxanes featuring a central azobenzene in the axle and a cyclodextrin mac...
Figure 5: Dendrimer composed of [2]rotaxane with an azobenzene photoswitch functioning as a macroscopic actua...
Figure 6: (a) Structure of the [2]rotaxane and (b) mechanism for K+ cations transport across lipid bilayers. Figure 6...
Figure 7: Dithienylethene-based [2]rotaxane used in writing patterning applications: (a) rotaxane with open d...
Figure 8: Dithienylethene-based [1]rotaxane shuttling motion triggered by pH changes (top). Dithienylethene p...
Figure 9: Depiction of a fumaramide-based [2]rotaxane photoswitching cycle and deposition on glass and mica s...
Figure 10: Hydrazone-based rotaxane controls helical pitch in a liquid crystal. Figure 10 was adapted from [73] (© 2024 S. ...
Figure 11: (a) Light- and pH-responsive Förster resonance energy transfer observed on a spiropyran-based [2]ro...
Figure 12: Photoresponsive bending of artificial muscle with [c2]daisy chain reported by Harada and collaborat...
Figure 13: Light-responsive shuttling motion of [2]rotaxane based on a stiff-stilbene photoswitch. Figure 13 was reprod...
Figure 14: Azobenzene-based rotaxane modulating lipid bilayers upon photoisomerization. Figure 14 was adapted from [23] (© ...
Figure 15: Depiction of fluorescence quenching processes upon external stimuli of a dithienylethene-based [2]r...
Figure 16: Diagrammatic illustration of rotaxane 1-H-SP depicting interconversions between the four isomeric s...
Figure 17: Representation of [2]rotaxane chloride binding modulated by photoisomerization of a stiff-stilbene. ...
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2283–2296, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.174
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Methods of radical generation (A) and general types of radical reactions (B).
Figure 2: Chiral catalysis in enantioselective radical chemistry [13-37].
Scheme 1: Diastereo- and enantioselective additions of nucleophilic radicals to N-enoyloxazolidinone and pyrr...
Scheme 2: Organocatalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions affording substituted pyrrolidines.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of a hexacyclic compound via an organocatalyzed enantioselective polyene cyclization.
Scheme 4: Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling reactions.
Scheme 5: Chiral cobalt–porphyrin metalloradical-catalyzed radical cyclization reactions.
Scheme 6: Enantioselective radical chaperone catalysis.
Scheme 7: Enantioselective radical addition by decatungstate/iminium catalysis.
Scheme 8: An ene-reductase-catalyzed photoenzymatic enantioselective radical cyclization/enantioselective HAT...
Scheme 9: Photoenzymatic oxidative C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling reactions between organoboron compounds and amino a...
Scheme 10: Electrochemical α-alkenylation reactions of 2-acylimidazoles catalyzed by a chiral-at-rhodium Lewis...
Scheme 11: Regio- and enantioselective electrochemical reactions of silyl polyenolates catalyzed by a chiral n...
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1376–1395, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.120
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Types and mechanism of the Cannizzaro reaction.
Figure 2: Various approaches of the Cannizzaro reaction.
Figure 3: Representative molecules synthesized via the Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 1: Intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction of aryl glyoxal hydrates using TOX catalysts.
Scheme 2: Intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction of aryl methyl ketones using ytterbium triflate/selenium dioxide....
Scheme 3: Intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction of aryl glyoxals using Cr(ClO4)3 as catalyst.
Scheme 4: Cu(II)-PhBox-catalyzed asymmetric Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 5: FeCl3-based chiral catalyst applied for the enantioselective intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction rep...
Scheme 6: Copper bis-oxazoline-catalysed intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction and proposed mechanism.
Scheme 7: Chiral Fe catalysts-mediated enantioselective Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 8: Ruthenium-catalyzed Cannizzaro reaction of aromatic aldehydes.
Scheme 9: MgBr2·Et2O-assisted Cannizzaro reaction of aldehydes.
Scheme 10: LiBr-catalyzed intermolecular Cannizzaro reaction of aldehydes.
Scheme 11: γ-Alumina as a catalyst in the Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 12: AlCl3-mediated Cannizzaro disproportionation of aldehydes.
Scheme 13: Ru–N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed dehydrogenative synthesis of carboxylic acids.
Figure 4: Proposed catalytic cycle for the dehydrogenation of alcohols.
Scheme 14: Intramolecular desymmetrization of tetraethylene glycol.
Scheme 15: Desymmetrization of oligoethylene glycol dialdehydes.
Scheme 16: Intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction of calix[4]arene dialdehydes.
Scheme 17: Desymmetrization of dialdehydes of symmetrical crown ethers using Ba(OH)2.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of ottelione A (proposed) via intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 19: Intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction for the synthesis of pestalalactone.
Scheme 20: Synthetic strategy towards nigricanin involving an intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 21: Spiro-β-lactone-γ-lactam part of oxazolomycins via aldol crossed-Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 22: Synthesis of indole alkaloids via aldol crossed-Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 23: Aldol and crossed-Cannizzaro reaction towards the synthesis of ertuliflozin.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of cyclooctadieneones using a Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 25: Microwave-assisted crossed-Cannizzaro reaction for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles.
Scheme 26: Synthesis of porphyrin-based rings using the Cannizzaro reaction.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of phthalides and pestalalactone via Cannizarro–Tishchenko-type reaction.
Scheme 28: Synthesis of dibenzoheptalene bislactones via a double intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1808–1853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.143
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Energy diagram of a two-state photoswitch. Figure 1 was redrawn from [2].
Figure 2: Example of the absorption spectra of the isomers of a photoswitch with most efficient irradiation w...
Scheme 1: Photoswitch classes described in this review.
Figure 3: Azoheteroarenes.
Scheme 2: E–Z Isomerisation (top) and mechanisms of thermal Z–E isomerisation (bottom).
Scheme 3: Rotation mechanism favoured by the electron displacement in push–pull systems. Selected examples of...
Figure 4: A) T-shaped and twisted Z-isomers determine the thermal stability and the Z–E-PSS (selected example...
Figure 5: Effect of di-ortho-substitution on thermal half-life and PSS.
Figure 6: Selected thermal lifetimes of azoindoles in different solvents and concentrations. aConcentration o...
Figure 7: Aryliminopyrazoles: N-pyrazoles (top) and N-phenyl (bottom).
Scheme 4: Synthesis of symmetrical heteroarenes through oxidation (A), reduction (B), and the Bayer–Mills rea...
Scheme 5: Synthesis of diazonium salt (A); different strategies of azo-coupling: with a nucleophilic ring (B)...
Scheme 6: Synthesis of arylazothiazoles 25 (A) and heteroaryltriazoles 28 (B).
Scheme 7: Synthesis of heteroarylimines 31a,b [36-38].
Figure 8: Push–pull non-ionic azo dye developed by Velasco and co-workers [45].
Scheme 8: Azopyridine reported by Herges and co-workers [46].
Scheme 9: Photoinduced phase transitioning azobispyrazoles [47].
Figure 9: Diazocines.
Scheme 10: Isomers, conformers and enantiomers of diazocine.
Scheme 11: Partial overlap of the ππ* band with electron-donating substituents and effect on the PSS. Scheme 11 was ada...
Figure 10: Main properties of diazocines with different bridges. aMeasured in n-hexane [56]. bMeasured in THF. cMe...
Scheme 12: Synthesis of symmetric diazocines.
Scheme 13: Synthesis of asymmetric diazocines.
Scheme 14: Synthesis of O- and S-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 15: Synthesis of N-heterodiazocines.
Scheme 16: Puromycin diazocine photoswitch [60].
Figure 11: Indigoids.
Figure 12: The main representatives of the indigoid photoswitch class.
Scheme 17: Deactivation process that prevents Z-isomerisation of indigo.
Figure 13: Stable Z-indigo derivative synthesised by Wyman and Zenhäusern [67].
Figure 14: Selected examples of indigos with aliphatic and aromatic substituents [68]. Dashed box: proposed π–π in...
Scheme 18: Resonance structures of indigo and thioindigo involving the phenyl ring.
Scheme 19: Possible deactivation mechanism for 4,4'-dihydroxythioindigo [76].
Scheme 20: Effect of different heteroaryl rings on the stability and the photophysical properties of hemiindig...
Figure 15: Thermal half-lives of red-shifted hemithioindigos in toluene [79]. aMeasured in toluene-d8.
Scheme 21: Structures of pyrrole [81] and imidazole hemithioindigo [64].
Figure 16: Examples of fully substituted double bond hemithioindigo (left), oxidised hemithioindigos (centre),...
Scheme 22: Structure of iminothioindoxyl 72 (top) and acylated phenyliminoindolinone photoswitch 73 (bottom). ...
Scheme 23: (top) Transition states of iminothioindoxyl 72. The planar transition state is associated with a lo...
Scheme 24: Baeyer–Drewsen synthesis of indigo (top) and N-functionalisation strategies (bottom).
Scheme 25: Synthesis of hemiindigo.
Scheme 26: Synthesis of hemithioindigo and iminothioindoxyl.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of double-bond-substituted hemithioindigos.
Scheme 28: Synthesis of phenyliminoindolinone.
Scheme 29: Hemithioindigo molecular motor [85].
Figure 17: Arylhydrazones.
Scheme 30: Switching of arylhydrazones. Note: The definitions of stator and rotor are arbitrary.
Scheme 31: Photo- and acidochromism of pyridine-based phenylhydrazones.
Scheme 32: A) E–Z thermal inversion of a thermally stable push–pull hydrazone [109]. B) Rotation mechanism favoured...
Scheme 33: Effect of planarisation on the half-life.
Scheme 34: The longest thermally stable hydrazone switches reported so far (left). Modulation of thermal half-...
Figure 18: Dependency of t1/2 on concentration and hypothesised aggregation-induced isomerisation.
Figure 19: Structure–property relationship of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 35: Synthesis of arylhydrazones.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of acylhydrazones.
Scheme 37: Photoswitchable fluorophore by Aprahamian et al. [115].
Scheme 38: The four-state photoswitch synthesised by the Cigáň group [116].
Figure 20: Diarylethenes.
Scheme 39: Isomerisation and oxidation pathway of E-stilbene to phenanthrene.
Scheme 40: Strategies adapted to avoid E–Z isomerisation and oxidation.
Scheme 41: Molecular orbitals and mechanism of electrocyclisation for a 6π system.
Figure 21: Aromatic stabilisation energy correlated with the thermal stability of the diarylethenes [127,129].
Figure 22: Half-lives of diarylethenes with increasing electron-withdrawing groups [128,129].
Scheme 42: Photochemical degradation pathway promoted by electron-donating groups [130].
Figure 23: The diarylethenes studied by Hanazawa et al. [134]. Increased rigidity leads to bathochromic shift.
Scheme 43: The dithienylethene synthesised by Nakatani's group [135].
Scheme 44: Synthesis of perfluoroalkylated diarylethenes.
Scheme 45: Synthesis of 139 and 142 via McMurry coupling.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of symmetrical derivatives 145 via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of acyclic 148, malonic anhydride 149, and maleimide derivatives 154.
Figure 24: Gramicidin S (top left) and two of the modified diarylethene derivatives: first generation (bottom ...
Scheme 48: Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and its reaction with an amino acid (top). The analogous dithienylethene der...
Figure 25: Fulgides.
Scheme 49: The three isomers of fulgides.
Scheme 50: Thermal and photochemical side products of unsubstituted fulgide [150].
Figure 26: Maximum absorption λc of the closed isomer compared with the nature of the aromatic ring and the su...
Scheme 51: Possible rearrangement of the excited state of 5-dimethylaminoindolylfulgide [153].
Figure 27: Quantum yields of ring closure (ΦE→C) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) correlated with the increasing s...
Scheme 52: Active (Eα) and inactive (Eβ) conformers (left) and the bicyclic sterically blocked fulgide 169 (ri...
Scheme 53: Quantum yield of ring-opening (ΦC→E) and E–Z isomerisation (ΦE→Z) for different substitution patter...
Scheme 54: Stobbe condensation pathway for the synthesis of fulgides 179, fulgimides 181 and fulgenates 178.
Scheme 55: Alternative synthesis of fulgides through Pd-catalysed carbonylation.
Scheme 56: Optimised synthesis of fulgimides [166].
Scheme 57: Photoswitchable FRET with a fulgimide photoswitch [167].
Scheme 58: Three-state fulgimide strategy by Slanina's group.
Figure 28: Spiropyrans.
Scheme 59: Photochemical (left) and thermal (right) ring-opening mechanisms for an exemplary spiropyran with a...
Figure 29: Eight possible isomers of the open merocyanine according to the E/Z configurations of the bonds hig...
Scheme 60: pH-Controlled photoisomerisation between the closed spiropyran 191-SP and the open E-merocyanine 19...
Scheme 61: Behaviour of spiropyran in water buffer according to Andréasson and co-workers [180]. 192-SP in an aqueo...
Scheme 62: (left box) Proposed mechanism of basic hydrolysis of MC [184]. (right box) Introduction of electron-dona...
Scheme 63: Photochemical interconversion of naphthopyran 194 (top) and spirooxazine 195 (bottom) photoswitches...
Scheme 64: Synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines 198 and the dicondensation by-product 199.
Scheme 65: Alternative synthesis of spiropyrans and spirooxazines with indolenylium salt 200.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of 4’-substituted spiropyrans 203 by condensation of an acylated methylene indoline 201 w...
Scheme 67: Synthesis of spironaphthopyrans 210 by acid-catalysed condensation of naphthols and diarylpropargyl...
Scheme 68: Photoswitchable surface wettability [194].
Figure 30: Some guiding principles for the choice of the most suitable photoswitch. Note that this guide is ve...
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 2212–2259, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.186
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representation of corannulene (1) and sumanene (2), the subunits of fullerene (C60).
Scheme 1: Mehta’s unsuccessful effort for the synthesis of sumanene scaffold 2.
Scheme 2: First synthesis of sumanene 2 by Sakurai et al. from norbornadiene 10.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of trimethylsumanene 28 from easily accessible norbornadiene (10).
Scheme 4: Generation of anions 29–31 and the preparation of tris(trimethylsilyl)sumanene 32.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of tri- and hexa-substituted sumanene derivatives.
Scheme 6: Synthesis of bowl-shaped π-extended sumanene derivatives 37a–f.
Scheme 7: Synthesis of monooxasumanene 38, trioxosumanene 40 along with imination of them.
Scheme 8: Synthesis of trimethylsumanenetrione 46 and exo-functionalized products 45a,b.
Scheme 9: Synthesis of bisumanenylidene 47 and sumanene dimer 48 from 2.
Scheme 10: The mono-substitution of 2 to generate diverse mono-sumanene derivatives 49a–d.
Scheme 11: Synthesis of sumanene building block 53 useful for further extension.
Scheme 12: Synthesis of hexafluorosumanene derivative 55 by Sakurai and co-workers.
Scheme 13: Preparation of sumanene-based carbene 60 and its reaction with cyclohexane.
Scheme 14: Barton–Kellogg reaction for the synthesis of sterically hindered alkenes.
Scheme 15: Synthesis of hydroxysumanene 68 by employing Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.
Scheme 16: Synthesis of sumanene derivatives having functionality at an internal carbon.
Scheme 17: Mechanism for nucleophilic substitution reaction at the internal carbon.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of diverse monosubstituted sumanene derivatives.
Scheme 19: Synthesis of di- and trisubstituted sumanene derivatives from sumanene (2).
Scheme 20: Preparation of monochlorosumanene 88 and hydrogenation of sumanene (2).
Scheme 21: The dimer 90 and bissumanenyl 92 achieved from halosumannes.
Scheme 22: Pyrenylsumanene 93 involving the Suzuki-coupling as a key transformation.
Scheme 23: Synthesis of various hexaarylsumanene derivatives using the Suzuki-coupling reaction.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of hexasubstituted sumanene derivatives 96 and 97.
Scheme 25: Synthesis of thioalkylsumanenes via an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction.
Scheme 26: Synthesis of tris(ethoxycarbonylethenyl)sumanene derivative 108.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of ferrocenyl-based sumanene derivatives.
Scheme 28: Synthesis of sumanenylferrocene architectures 118 and 119 via Negishi coupling.
Scheme 29: Diosmylation and the synthesis of phenylboronate ester 121 of sumanene.
Scheme 30: Synthesis of the iron-complex of sumanene.
Scheme 31: Synthesis of tri- and mononuclear sumanenyl zirconocene complexes.
Scheme 32: Synthesis of [CpRu(η6-sumanene)]PF6.
Scheme 33: Preparation of sumanene-based porous coordination networks 127 (spherical tetramer units) and 128 (...
Scheme 34: Synthesis of sumanenylhafnocene complexes 129 and 130.
Scheme 35: Synthesis of 134 and 135 along with PdII coordination complex 136.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of alkali metals sumanene complex K7(C21H102−)2(C21H93−)·8THF (137) containing di- and tr...
Scheme 37: The encapsulation of a Cs+ ion between two sumanenyl anions.
Scheme 38: Synthesis of monothiasumanene 140 and dithiasumanene 141 from 139.
Scheme 39: Synthesis of trithiasumanene 151 by Otsubo and his co-workers.
Scheme 40: Synthesis of trithiasumanene derivatives 155 and 156.
Scheme 41: Synthetic route towards hexathiolated trithiasumanenes 158.
Scheme 42: Synthesis of triselenasumanene 160 by Shao and teammates.
Scheme 43: Synthesis of tritellurasumanene derivatives from triphenylene skeletons.
Scheme 44: Synthesis of pyrazine-fused sumanene architectures through condensation reaction.
Scheme 45: Treatment of the trichalcogenasumanenes with diverse oxidative reagents.
Scheme 46: Ring-opening reaction with H2O2 and oxone of heterasumanenes 178 and 179.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of polycyclic compounds from sumanene derivatives.
Scheme 48: Synthesis of diimide-based heterocycles reported by Shao’s and co-workers.
Scheme 49: Synthesis of pristine trichalcogenasumanenes, 151, 205, and 206.
Scheme 50: Synthesis of trichalcogenasumanenes via hexaiodotriphenylene precursor 208.
Scheme 51: Synthesis of trisilasumanenes 214 and 215.
Scheme 52: Synthesis of trisilasumanene derivatives 218 and 219.
Scheme 53: Synthesis of novel trigermasumanene derivative 223.
Scheme 54: An attempt towards the synthesis of tristannasumanene derivative 228.
Scheme 55: Synthesis of triphosphasumanene trisulfide 232 from commercially available 229.
Scheme 56: The doping of sumanene derivatives with chalcogens (S, Se, Te) and phosphorus.
Scheme 57: Synthesis of heterasumanene containing three different heteroatoms.
Scheme 58: Synthesis of trichalcogenasumanene derivatives 240 and 179.
Scheme 59: Preparation of trichalcogenasumanenes 245 and 248.
Scheme 60: Design and synthesis of trichalcogenasumanene derivatives 252 and 178.
Scheme 61: Synthesis of spirosumanenes 264–269 and non-spiroheterasumanenes 258–263.
Scheme 62: Synthesis of sumanene-type hetero polycyclic compounds.
Scheme 63: Synthesis of triazasumanenes 288 and its sulfone congener 287.
Scheme 64: Synthesis of C3-symmetric chiral triaryltriazasumanenes via cross-coupling reaction.
Scheme 65: Synthesis of mononaphthosumanene 293 using Suzuki coupling as a key step.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of di- and trinaphthosumanene derivatives 302–304.
Scheme 67: Synthesis of hemifullerene skeletons by Hirao’s group.
Scheme 68: Design and construction of C70 fragment from a C60 sumanene fragment.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2334–2344, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.178
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Complanadine natural products and their plausible biosynthesis.
Scheme 2: The Siegel total synthesis of complanadine A enabled by [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 3: The Sarpong total synthesis of complanadine A enabled by a biomimetic strategy and C–H activation.
Scheme 4: The Tsukano total synthesis of complanadine A enabled by Diels–Alder cycloaddition, Heck cyclizatio...
Scheme 5: The Dai total synthesis of complanadine A using single-atom skeletal editing.
Scheme 6: Comparative summary of the four complanadine A total syntheses.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2479–2488, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.190
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: (a) Representative examples of bioactive nitrocarbazoles. (b) Traditional electrophilic aromatic su...
Figure 1: ORTEP diagram of compound 2a (CCDC 2478298).
Scheme 2: Effect of directing groups on the nitration of the carbazoles.
Scheme 3: Scope of the method. Reaction conditions: 1 (0.2 mmol, 1.0 equiv), Pd2(dba)3 (0.02 mmol, 10 mol %),...
Scheme 4: Gram-scale synthesis, directing group removal, and synthetic utility of our method.
Scheme 5: Key mechanistic studies.
Figure 2: Plausible catalytic cycle.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2498–2512, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.192
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: a) Structural components of the rotaxanes (PEG, polyethylene glycol chain; BAA (benzylalkylammonium...
Figure 2: Photoisomerization of rotaxane 1.
Figure 3: Reversible photoswitching of rotaxane 1 in LUVs with varying lipid compositions. Left column: UV–vi...
Figure 4: Summary of sulforhodamine B release from LUVs of varying lipid compositions. a) Dye release after 7...
Figure 5: Percentage of sulforhodamine B released from EYPC/Chol 8:2 LUVs upon five irradiation cycles after ...
Figure 6: Percentage of sulforhodamine B released from LUVs containing rotaxane 1 upon five alternating light...
Figure 7: Evaluation of effect of axle 3 upon light exposure. a) Percentage of sulforhodamine B released from...
Figure 8: a) Illustration of rotaxane 4 in its preferred orientation within a lipid bilayer; percentage of su...
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1527–1547, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.137
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: A) Benzylic fluorides in bioactive compounds, with B) the relative BDEs of different benzylic C–H b...
Figure 2: Base-mediated benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 3: Sonochemical base-mediated benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 4: Mono- and difluorination of nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic benzylic substrates.
Figure 5: Palladium-catalysed benzylic C–H fluorination with N-fluoro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium tetrafluorobo...
Figure 6: Palladium-catalysed, PIP-directed benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination of α-amino acids and proposed mech...
Figure 7: Palladium-catalysed monodentate-directed benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination of α-amino acids.
Figure 8: Palladium-catalysed bidentate-directed benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination.
Figure 9: Palladium-catalysed benzylic fluorination using a transient directing group approach. Ratio refers ...
Figure 10: Outline for benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination via radical intermediates.
Figure 11: Iron(II)-catalysed radical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination using Selectfluor.
Figure 12: Silver and amino acid-mediated benzylic fluorination.
Figure 13: Copper-catalysed radical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination using NFSI.
Figure 14: Copper-catalysed C(sp3)–H fluorination of benzylic substrates with electrochemical catalyst regener...
Figure 15: Iron-catalysed intramolecular fluorine-atom-transfer from N–F amides.
Figure 16: Vanadium-catalysed benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 17: NDHPI-catalysed radical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 18: Potassium persulfate-mediated radical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 19: Benzylic fluorination using triethylborane as a radical chain initiator.
Figure 20: Heterobenzylic C(sp3)–H radical fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 21: Benzylic fluorination of phenylacetic acids via a charge-transfer complex. NMR yields in parenthese...
Figure 22: Oxidative radical photochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H strategies.
Figure 23: 9-Fluorenone-catalysed photochemical radical benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 24: Xanthone-photocatalysed radical benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor II.
Figure 25: 1,2,4,5-Tetracyanobenzene-photocatalysed radical benzylic fluorination with Selectfluor.
Figure 26: Xanthone-catalysed benzylic fluorination in continuous flow.
Figure 27: Photochemical phenylalanine fluorination in peptides.
Figure 28: Decatungstate-photocatalyzed versus AIBN-initiated selective benzylic fluorination.
Figure 29: Benzylic fluorination using organic dye Acr+-Mes and Selectfluor.
Figure 30: Palladium-catalysed benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with nucleophilic fluoride.
Figure 31: Manganese-catalysed benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with AgF and Et3N·3HF and proposed mechanism. 19...
Figure 32: Iridium-catalysed photocatalytic benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with nucleophilic fluoride and N-ac...
Figure 33: Iridium-catalysed photocatalytic benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with TBPB HAT reagent.
Figure 34: Silver-catalysed, amide-promoted benzylic fluorination via a radical-polar crossover pathway.
Figure 35: General mechanism for oxidative electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination.
Figure 36: Electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with HF·amine reagents.
Figure 37: Electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesul...
Figure 38: Electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination of phenylacetic acid esters with HF·amine reagents.
Figure 39: Electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination of triphenylmethane with PEG and CsF.
Figure 40: Electrochemical benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination with caesium fluoride and fluorinated alcohol HFIP.
Figure 41: Electrochemical secondary and tertiary benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination. GF = graphite felt. DCE = 1,...
Figure 42: Electrochemical primary benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination of electron-poor toluene derivatives. Ring f...
Figure 43: Electrochemical primary benzylic C(sp3)–H fluorination utilizing pulsed current electrolysis.