Organic Chemistry Frontiers
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Organic Chemistry Frontiers
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An international high impact journal for cutting-edge research from all disciplines of organic chemistry.

Published by @rsc.org 🌐 Website: rsc.li/orgchemfront
Recent research by Tetsuhiro Nemoto's team.
#ChibaUniversity

Authors report an iridium(III)-catalyzed strategy for direct C4–H amination of indoles, followed by acid-promoted ring closure, to afford 3,4-fused azepinoindoles in the shortest synthetic sequence reported to date.
Iridium(III)-catalyzed site-selective indole C–H functionalization through enone functionality: design, mechanism and applications
Transition-metal-catalyzed C–H activation has been a powerful platform for straightforward molecular functionalization, yet the mechanistic intricacies often remain elusive. Here, we report an iridium...
doi.org
January 9, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Research article by Guilherme S. Caleffi's team.
#UFRJ

A mild and highly efficient one-pot asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of challenging, electron-rich 3-arylidenechroman-4-ones is reported.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01629K
Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of polyoxygenated 3-arylidenechroman-4-ones: a powerful tool for the total synthesis of natural homoisoflavonoids
A mild and highly efficient one-pot asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of challenging, electron-rich 3-arylidenechroman-4-ones is reported. The protocol utilizes a Ru(ii)-catalyst under neutral c...
doi.org
January 8, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Don't miss the outside back cover article of issue 1:

A decade of advances in alkynyl sulfone and alkynyl chalcogenide synthesis by Angelita M. Barcellos, Alex F. C. Flores, Gabriel P. da Costa 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
A decade of advances in alkynyl sulfone and alkynyl chalcogenide synthesis
Over the past decade, the synthesis of alkynyl sulfones and alkynyl chalcogen derivatives has witnessed significant advances. Modern methodologies have increasingly focused on sustainable protocols, c...
pubs.rsc.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Issue 1 of Organic Chemistry Frontiers is available now! In this issue read the outside front cover article:

Benzoheterocyclic [b]-fused BODIPYs: synthesis and effects of N, O, and S on structure, photophysical properties, and aggregation by Xiangguang Li, Yanhua Yang, Wei Jiang 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
Benzoheterocyclic [b]-fused BODIPYs: synthesis and effects of N, O, and S on structure, photophysical properties, and aggregation
Next-generation optoelectronic devices require organic small-molecule light-emitters with high luminous efficiency and strong resistance to non-radiative decay. BODIPY dyes fulfill these criteria, par...
pubs.rsc.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Research article by Jiahong Li's team.
#SWJTU

Authors have developed a novel method for the 1,2-/1,4-thiosulfonylation bifunctional reaction of thiosulfates with non-aromatic olefins.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01570G
Isoquinoline-catalyzed visible-light-mediated 1,2-/1,4-thiosulfonylation difunctionalization reaction of thiosulfates with alkenes
We have developed a novel method for the 1,2-/1,4-thiosulfonylation bifunctional reaction of thiosulfates with non-aromatic olefins. This approach eliminates the need for metal catalysts or photocatal...
doi.org
January 6, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Research article by Yuhan Zhou's team.
#DLUT

Authors report a simple, Brønsted acid-catalyzed, intramolecular annulation of 1-phenyl-2-CF3-1,3-enynes for the efficient construction of valuable trifluoromethyl-substituted azulenes.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01617G
Brønsted acid-catalyzed synthesis of trifluoromethylated azulenes via cyclization of 1-phenyl-2-CF3-1,3-enynes
Azulene and its derivatives are important scaffolds with broad applications. The introduction of a trifluoromethyl group is an efficient way to enhance the activity and physicochemical properties of d...
doi.org
January 5, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Review article by Guo-Qiang Xu's team
#LanzhouUniversity

This review provides a comprehensive, mechanism-oriented summary of recent developments in photoredox-catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization of amines.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01507C
Photoredox-enabled C(sp3)–H functionalization of amines through iminium ions, radicals, and carbanions
The direct functionalization of C(sp3)–H bonds in amines has emerged as a powerful and atom economical strategy for constructing structurally diverse nitrogen-containing molecules without requiring pr...
doi.org
December 31, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Research artilce by Jian Zhao's team.
#NJUST

In this study, authors present a novel class of 1,3-dienyl-2-boronic acids that are specifically designed for homoallenylboration.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01521A
Pd/Cu/TsOH-cocatalysed direct synthesis of 1,3-dienyl-2-boronic acid: a new reagent for homoallenylboration
The homoallenylboration of carbonyls and imines using 1,3-dienyl-2-boron reagents is an appealing strategy for accessing synthetically valuable homoallenyl alcohols and amines. Nevertheless, existing ...
doi.org
December 30, 2025 at 7:14 AM
#OpenAccess article by René Peters's team.
#UNI-STUTTGART

In this article, a novel concept for asymmetric nitroaldol additions is introduced through a polyfunctional catalyst.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01558H
Class-II-aldolase-mimicking polyfunctional Lewis acid/azolium–aryloxide catalysts in direct enantioselective nitro-aldol additions
The catalytic asymmetric nitroaldol reaction is a powerful tool for accessing chiral 1,2-difunctionalized motifs, and numerous catalytic systems have been reported. Despite considerable progress in ac...
doi.org
December 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This review consolidates progress since 2018, systematically dissecting the mechanisms of photocatalytic fluoroalkyl radical-driven formation of five-, six-, and seven-membered fluorinated heterocycles.

Read article by Kai Sun's team from #XuchangUniversity.
doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01484K
Photocatalytic fluoroalkyl radical-initiated construction of fluorinated heterocycles: mechanisms and applications
Fluorine-containing heterocycles hold exceptional value across pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science owing to fluorine's distinctive electronic effects, lipophilicity, and capacity to ...
doi.org
December 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Research by Jens Voskuhl's team.
#UNI-DUE

Authors investigated how steric pressure influences the structural and photophysical attributes in a series of sequentially methylated phenoxazines.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01437A
Controlling structural and photophysical properties in sequentially methylated phenoxazines
The “magic methyl” effect is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary features in small-molecule drug design and has recently been recognized as a subtle yet powerful tool for fine-tuning the ...
doi.org
December 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Review article by Zhao-Zhao Zhou.
#NanchangNormalUniversity

Author reviews recent advances in metallic electrocatalyzed C–N bond formation, emphasizing mild methodologies, mechanistic insights, and synthetic applications.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01467K
Metallic electrocatalyzed C–N bond formation: new catalytic modes and technologies
The current state-of-the-art hot research topic of C–N bond formation is focused on versatile and mild transformations. Conventional transition metal-catalyzed methods are typically conducted using sp...
doi.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Research by Jian Zhao's team.
#NJUST

Authors present a novel class of 1,3-dienyl-2-boronic acids that are specifically designed for homoallenylboration.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01521A
Pd/Cu/TsOH-cocatalysed direct synthesis of 1,3-dienyl-2-boronic acid: a new reagent for homoallenylboration
The homoallenylboration of carbonyls and imines using 1,3-dienyl-2-boron reagents is an appealing strategy for accessing synthetically valuable homoallenyl alcohols and amines. Nevertheless, existing ...
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:24 AM
#Review article by Chuang-Chuang Li's team.

Authors provide a brief summary of the recent advancements in synthetic strategies targeting polycyclic phloroglucinol natural products, as well as their isolation and biological activities.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01477H
Recent advances in the total synthesis of polycyclic phloroglucinol natural products
The total synthesis of polycyclic phloroglucinol natural products has attracted significant attention from the chemistry community in recent years, owing to their challenging structural frameworks and...
doi.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
#OpenAccess article by Qing-An Chen's team.
#DICP

Authors developed a molecular-bridging strategy that enables the preparation of unnatural terpenoids from natural terpenyl aldehydes and terpenes, expanding the potential applications of natural terpenoids.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01443C
Bridging terpenyl aldehydes and terpenes with hydrazine
In nature, terpenoids are typically biosynthesized through the catalysis of specific enzymes, while the artificial synthesis of unnatural terpenoids has garnered increasing attention. Herein, we have ...
doi.org
December 19, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Recent research by Yongjun Zang's team.

Authors describe a continuous flow method for the telescoped synthesis of benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamines and carboxylic acids via monoacylation and subsequent acid-catalyzed cyclization.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01526J
Telescoped continuous flow synthesis of benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamines and carboxylic acids
Benzimidazole and its derivatives are a versatile class of scaffolds found in a variety of pharmaceuticals and synthetic chemistry. Herein, we describe a continuous flow method for the telescoped synt...
doi.org
December 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Recent research by Keyume Ablajan's team.
#XinjiangUniversity

Authors present a novel, practical, and mild base-mediated SN2′/SNV and ipso-/γ-selective defluorinative annulation of heteroaryl-based bis-nucleophiles with α-CF3-styrenes.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01324K
Selective defluorinative [4 + 3] annulation to access fluorinated oxazepines and thiazepines
Fluorinated seven-membered heterocycles are rare yet highly valuable motifs in drug discovery due to their conformational diversity and improved pharmacological profiles. Here, we present a novel, pra...
doi.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Hot research by Alakesh Bisai's team.
#IISERKOL

Authors develop an organocatalytic, enantio- and diastereoselective alkylation strategy enabling efficient synthesis of bis(cyclotryptamine) alkaloids and concise total syntheses of (+)-calycanthidine and (+)-idiospermuline.
doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01482D
doi.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Recent research by Hak-Fun Chow's team.
#CUHK

The syntheses of three 3,8-diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes (BDTFs) and two doubly o-phenylene-bridged BDTFs are presented.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01298H
Synthesis, twofold oxidative cyclization and dual emission of diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes
The syntheses of three 3,8-diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes (BDTFs) and two doubly o-phenylene-bridged BDTFs are presented. These syntheses require careful consideration of the ste...
doi.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The syntheses of three 3,8-diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes (BDTFs) and two doubly o-phenylene-bridged BDTFs are presented.

Read the research by Hak-Fun Chow's team.
doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01298H
Synthesis, twofold oxidative cyclization and dual emission of diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes
The syntheses of three 3,8-diaryl-substituted benzodithieno[5.5.5.6]fenestranes (BDTFs) and two doubly o-phenylene-bridged BDTFs are presented. These syntheses require careful consideration of the ste...
doi.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Recent research by Viktor O. Iaroshenko 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#MatejBelUniversity

This study presents an improved reduction of nitroarenes to anilines using cucurbit[7]uril and ammonia borane, marking progress in photochemical supramolecular catalysis.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01451D
Photo and mechanochemically induced reduction of nitroarenes using ammonia borane
This study presents an advanced approach for the reduction of nitroarenes to anilines, employing cucurbit[7]uril as a catalyst and ammonia borane as a hydrogen source, signifying noteworthy progressio...
doi.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Recent research by Jaewon Leea and Inji Shin.
#SeoulTech

Authors report a photo-induced, metal- and additive-free method to access α-aminoketones via addition of in situ generated siloxycarbene to imines.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01438G
Reversed-polarity access to α-aminoketones using in situ generated siloxycarbenes from acylsilanes under photo-irradiation
Photo-induced addition reactions of acylsilanes have been developed as an efficient method to access α-aminoketones via in situ generated siloxycarbenes, which act as nucleophiles. This method display...
doi.org
December 10, 2025 at 6:55 AM
#OpenAccess article by Robert Britton 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#SFU

Authors describe a convenient procedure for the enantioselective preparation of R- or S-configured α-haloaldehydes involving the oxidative cleavage of readily prepared, stable and storable halohydrin aldol products.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01415H
A convenient synthesis of enantioenriched α-haloaldehydes
α-Haloaldehydes represent an important family of chiral building blocks that are particularly well suited for the synthesis of sp3-rich heterocycles and polyketide-derived natural products. While the ...
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
#OpenAccess #review by David Casanova 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭. #DIPC

Authors investigate triangular acenes, formed by fusing three identical linear acenes through cyclobutadiene linkers into a threefold symmetric framework.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01343G
Electronic structure origins of radical character in triangular fused acenes: sextet stabilization vs. antiaromaticity release
Open-shell hydrocarbons are of great interest in molecular materials, yet their electronic structures remain challenging to describe. Here we investigate triangular acenes, formed by fusing three iden...
doi.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Recent research by A. Stephen K. Hashmi 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#HeidelbergUniversity

Gold catalysis enables selective silyl coupling from diazonium salts, now extended to (1-silyl)allylboronates for making valuable alkenyl boronates.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01321F
Gold-catalyzed Hiyama coupling of (1-silyl)allylboronates with diazonium salts
The gold-catalyzed cross coupling of diazonium salts enables the selective coupling of silyl over boryl moieties. So far only aryl and vinyl B,Si-bifunctional building blocks have been coupled to obta...
doi.org
December 5, 2025 at 4:54 AM