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Functional group interconversion, a pivotal synthetic technique for precise editing of molecular building blocks, is rare when facilitated by energy transfer catalysis. Herein, the authors report two instances of photochemical rearrangement of isonitriles, facilitated by energy transfer catalysis under visible light.

Asymmetric multicomponent reactions that aim to control multiple chiral centers with high selectivity in a single step remain an ongoing challenge. Here, the authors present a photoredox- and chromium-catalyzed enantioselective three-component (hetero)arylalkylation of 1,3-dienes through C-H functionalization.

Palladium-catalysed allylic substitution is a widely used method in organic synthesis, although it requires prefunctionalized starting materials or stoichiometric oxidants. Here the authors report a radical route to form π-allylpalladium complexes, and develop a 1,4-aminoalkylation of dienes under redox-neutral conditions.

Samarium iodide is a remarkably useful and mild reductant in organic synthesis, but its use can be problematic due to the need for (super)stoichiometric loadings. Now a method that employs samarium iodide as a catalyst—without the need for a stoichiometric co-reductant—is reported. Loadings as low as 5% are shown to catalyse radical cyclization cascades.

Ketyl radicals can be used in a range of reactions, but their generation often requires harsh conditions and a large excess of reductants. Now, a multicomponent, palladium-photocatalysed reaction between aldehydes, 1,3-butadiene and N, S, O and C nucleophiles to build architecturally complex homoallylic alcohols is reported wherein ketyl-type radicals are generated under mild conditions.

A ternary catalytic method combining organic photoredox, hydrogen atom transfer and nickel catalysis is reported. This combination can directly arylate the allylic C(sp³)–H bonds of a broad range of readily available olefins. Mechanistic experiments, coupled with density functional theory calculations aid the elucidation of the ternary catalytic cycle and the origin of regioselectivity.

Borylated carbocycles occupy a pivotal position as essential components in synthetic chemistry, drug discovery, and materials science. Herein, the authors present a photorearrangement that involves a boron atom enabled by energy transfer catalysis under visible light conditions.

Developments in synthetic chemistry are increasingly driven by attempts to improve both selectivity and sustainability. This Review highlights the versatility of bifunctional reagents in generating chemical complexity with enhanced atom-economy-leveraging radical reactions, C–H functionalizations, cross-couplings, organocatalysed processes and cyclizations.

Hepatitis B infection is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, the authors characterise viral infection in a cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and find viral integration is more frequent in males than females.

Nitrous oxide is traditionally considered to be an inert molecule, and methods for its activation and utilization are currently limited. Now, a strategy has been developed — involving an organometallic Baeyer–Villiger step — for the conversion of aryl halides to phenols under mild conditions, using N₂O as the oxygen source.

Snakes have many characteristics that distinguish them from their relatives. Here, Yin et al. sequence the genome of the five-pacer viper, Deinagkistrodon acutus, and use comparative genomic analyses to elucidate the evolution of transposable elements, developmental genes and sex chromosomes in snakes.

Nickel-catalysed cross-electrophile coupling (XEC) is a useful reaction in synthetic organic chemistry. Now, a nickel-catalysed electrochemical XEC reaction mediated by dynamic ligand exchange enables the formation of a C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond between tertiary alkyl bromides and aryl (pseudo)halides.

A draft genome sequence of the hornwort Anthoceros augustus confirms the phylogenetic relationships among the three clades of bryophytes and provides insight into the unique characteristics of hornworts and their adaptations to live on land.

This Review considers cascade reactions initiated by single electron transfer. Open-shell intermediates are highly reactive but undergo reactions with high selectivity. They are thus ideal intermediates in cascade reactions that generate complex, high-value products from simple starting materials