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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
#Review article by Gabriel P. da Costa 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#FURG

This review highlights the progress of the synthesis of alkynyl sulfones and alkynyl chalcogen derivatives during the last ten years.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01359C
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...
doi.org
December 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
#Review article by Shaojie Lou

This review summarizes chiral directing groups in transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric C–H activation since 2005, their roles in catalysis, and key reaction mechanisms.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01354B
Recent advances in asymmetric C–H bond functionalization enabled by chiral directing groups
The asymmetric activation and functionalization of inert C–H bonds represent a central challenge in modern organic synthetic chemistry. Transition-metal-catalyzed strategies have emerged as pivotal so...
doi.org
November 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
#OpenAccess research by Esteban Mejía 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#LIKAT

Authors synthesised and characterised a series of 5,10-dihydrophenazine derivatives that bear heterocycles as electron-withdrawing groups.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01348H
Janus-type photo-redox properties and catalytic applications of 5,10-dihydrophenazine derivatives
Inspired by the synthetic potential of organic photoredox catalysts, we synthesised and characterised a series of 5,10-dihydrophenazine derivatives that bear heterocycles as electron-withdrawing group...
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Hot research by Xuesen Fan 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

Authors present a novel synthesis of benzodiazepine-containing polyheterocyclic compounds. Check out if you are interested.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01332A
Synthesis of benzodiazepine-containing polyheterocyclic compounds via C–H bond activation-initiated formal [5 + 2] annulation
The development of innovative strategies for the synthesis of medium-sized N-heterocyclic compounds is an important yet challenging topic in organic synthesis. Presented herein is a novel synthesis of...
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Hot article by Zhenda Tan 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#HainanUniversity

This review examines radical-mediated C–O bond scission strategies in photoredox systems, elucidating the generation mechanisms and transformation patterns of radical intermediates across distinct reaction pathways.

doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01215E
Recent advances in light-enabled deoxygenative transformation of alcohols
Alcohols, serving as fundamental building blocks in organic synthesis, face inherent challenges in deoxygenative functionalization due to the strong chemical inertness of C–O bonds characterized by hi...
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:28 AM
#OpenAccess article by Vidya Kumaria and Lokman H. Choudhury. #IITPatna

Authors report a novel Rh(III)-catalyzed perimidine-directed C–H activation strategy for the synthesis of perimidine-fused heterocycles using various types of alkenes.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01292A
Perimidine directed Rh(III)-catalyzed [4 + 1] and [4 + 2] annulations: synthesis of perimidine linked spiro-succinimides and isoquinolines
We report a novel Rh(iii)-catalyzed perimidine-directed C–H activation strategy for the synthesis of perimidine-fused heterocycles using various types of alkenes. The reaction of 2-aryl perimidines wi...
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
🔥Hot research by Hao Song 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#SichuanUniversity

Authors report a chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of spiro-bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes featuring vicinal tertiary–quaternary stereocenters.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01029B
Enantioselective polar [2σ + 2π] cycloadditions of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes and ortho-quinone methides enabled by chiral phosphoric acid catalysis
Herein, we report a chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of spiro-bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes featuring vicinal tertiary–quaternary stereocenters. This method employs a formal [2σ + 2...
pubs.rsc.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🎉Issue 23 of OCF is released now, please check out the cover article:

𝐏𝐝-𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐬𝐮𝐣𝐢–𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐬: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬-𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 by Shū Kobayashi 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01336D
November 19, 2025 at 5:55 AM
#OpenAccess article by Sharanappa Nembenna 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#NISER

The protocol introduces the first examples of nitrile and isocyanide reduction 𝘷𝘪𝘢 a substrate-assisted pathway.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01184A
Bis-guanidinate magnesium amide-catalyzed hydroboration of nitriles and isocyanides via a substrate-assisted pathway
The bis-guanidinate amido magnesium(ii) compound [LMgN(SiMe3)2; L = {(ArHN)(ArN)–C [[double bond, length as m-dash]] N–C = (NAr)(NHAr)}; [Ar = 2,6-Et2-C6H3] (Mg-1) has been employed as a pre-catalyst ...
doi.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Reposted by Organic Chemistry Frontiers
Outstanding contributions take place every day across the chemical sciences. #RSCPrizes are your chance to recognise that work.

Nominations are open now across a wide range of categories 👉 Make your nomination here: https://rsc.li/43w1Oaq

#ChemSky
October 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
#OpenAccess article by Juan R. Granja 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#CiQUS #USC

A new class of supramolecular #antimicrobials from D,L-cyclic #peptides with a dihydroxylated-γ-residue mimicking saccharides is described.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01374G
Novel antimicrobial self-assembled cyclic peptide nanotubes containing (1R,3S,4R,5R)-3-amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid, a new building block for developing mimetics of saccharide–pept...
A new class of supramolecular antimicrobials based on d,l-cyclic peptides containing a dihydroxylated-γ-residue, which was designed to mimic the saccharide component present in certain carbohydrate–pe...
doi.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:34 AM
#OpenAccess article by Ronald K. Castellano 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#UniversityofFlorida #UF

The current work introduces a novel photoswitch system combining an electron-rich [2.2]pCp moiety with an electron-deficient RCN unit, as a planar chiral “push–pull” architecture.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01401H
[2.2]Paracyclophane–dicyanorhodanine conjugates as planar chiral molecular photoswitches
(Chir)optical molecular photoswitches have garnered significant attention for their applications in asymmetric synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, and the materials sciences. The planar chirality and...
doi.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 AM
#Review article by Keshaba Nanda Parida 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#CSIR-NIIST

This perspective reviews recent advances in #OICs as sources of iodoarenes and oxidative reagents, focusing on transition metal-free protocols, mechanistic insights, and synthetic applications since 2019.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01262G
Transition metal-free transfer of iodoarenes by organohypervalent iodine compounds
Iodoarenes are important precursors used for the synthesis of compounds with C–C and C–heteroatom bonds. They are accessed either by arene iodination or by multistep functional group transformations, ...
doi.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:49 AM
#Review article by Satish Kumar Singh 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#GEC Daman

This review outlines progress in mechanistic understanding and catalyst design for visible-light-driven CDC reactions of N-heterocycles between 2014 and 2025.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01346A
Visible light-induced cross-dehydrogenative coupling of N-heterocyclic compounds: green and efficient synthetic strategies
Cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC), which directly modifies C–H bonds, is a powerful tool in modern organic synthesis. It saves atoms and steps while making it easier to obtain a wide variety of che...
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 AM
🔓 #OpenAccess article by Cristiano Zonta 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#UNIPD

This study presents an innovative approach for rapid and reliable determination of circular dichroism outputs using a chiroptical supramolecular sensor based on an oxo-vanadium(V) complex.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01281C
A unified predictive model for chiroptical sensing: a substrate-centric approach to predicting circular dichroism outputs across two chemically distinct organic classes
This study presents an innovative approach for rapid and reliable determination of circular dichroism outputs using a chiroptical supramolecular sensor based on an oxo-vanadium(v) complex. The researc...
doi.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:58 AM
🔥Hot article by Qiang Xiao 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.
#JXSTNU

Authors report a novel electroreductive intermolecular 1,2-thiocarboxylation of alkenes with cyclosulfonium salts and carbon dioxide (CO₂) via selective C–S bond cleavage for the construction of thioether acids.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01313E
Electroreductive thiocarboxylation of alkenes with cyclosulfonium salts and CO2: access to thioether acids
Electroreductive carboxylation has emerged as a prominent strategy in modern organic synthesis, demonstrating well-established applications in two-component coupling reactions. However, multi-componen...
doi.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:21 AM
🔓 #OpenAccess article by Radim Hrdina 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭. #CUNI

Authors disclose the use of Burgess reagent in a ring-contraction of pre-functionalised 2-amino-adamantan-1-ols to noradamantyl carbaldehydes in a pinacol-type rearrangement.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01150G
Synthesis of noradamantane building blocks
The carbon scaffold of noradamantane, a ring contracted adamantane derivative, is notoriously difficult to selectively oxidise and functionalise, which limits the hydrocarbon's use as a building block...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:56 AM
🎉Issue 22 of Organic Chemistry Frontiers has been released! Read the cover article by Mitsuhiro Arisawa 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01123J
November 5, 2025 at 8:21 AM
🔥𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐝𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂–𝐎 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬: 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐳𝐨-𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 by Alexander O. Terent'ev 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

The cross-dehydrogenative coupling ( #CDC) of oximes with hydrazones employing KMnO₄ as the oxidant was discovered.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01151E
Cross-dehydrogenative C–O coupling of oximes with hydrazones: synthesis of fungicidal azo-oxime ethers
The cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of oximes with hydrazones employing KMnO4 as the oxidant was discovered. Presumably, the reaction proceeds through the selective cross-recombination of oxime a...
doi.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:03 AM
🤔𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐍-𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Read article by David Martin 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

🤫Authors show that NHC radical cations are unlikely to be the relevant intermediates in most NHC-promoted radical reactions.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01285F
Are N-heterocyclic carbene radical cations relevant intermediates in radical transformations?
N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) radical cations have been increasingly hypothesized as key intermediates in NHC-promoted radical reactions, but have eluded direct observation so far. Herein, we report jo...
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
🔥 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐨-𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 [𝟒 + 𝟐]-𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐥 𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 by Xiaoming Feng 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

Authors achieved highly selective [4+2]-cycloaddition of azidovinyl-cyclohexene with aurones and alkenyloxindoles here.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01290B
Synthesis of chiral spiro-heterocyclic azides via asymmetric [4 + 2]-cycloaddition of conjugated vinyl azides
Chiral spiro-heterocyclic scaffolds are prevalent in numerous bioactive molecules and pharmaceuticals, yet their asymmetric synthesis remains rare. In this study, we achieved a highly enantioselective...
doi.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:35 AM
👉𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲-𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟐- 𝐨𝐫 𝟑-𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐑𝐡- 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐢-𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐥 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 by Mitsuhiro Arisawa 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QI01247C
Morphological transformation of Pt nanocrystals by an electrochemical method in alkaline media and performance of ethanol electrooxidation
Controlling the surface structure and shape of platinum group metals (PGMs) is an effective strategy to improve their electrocatalytic performance. Electrochemical methods have demonstrated significan...
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:41 AM
👉𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐨- 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐲𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐬 by Kosuke Ono 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

The benzoin condensation of a designed dialdehyde 1 with a terphenyl framework was investigated.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01179E
Precipitation-driven diastereo- and regioselective macrocyclization via benzoin condensation: effects of solvents and alkyl chain lengths
The benzoin condensation of a designed dialdehyde 1 with a terphenyl framework was investigated. When the reaction was carried out in mixed solvents composed of an alcohol and a co-solvent, a precipit...
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:43 AM
🔓𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 [𝟑 + 𝟐] 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 by Boris J. Nachtsheim 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

Authors demonstrate that N-heterocyclic iodonium salts can catalyze [3+2] cycloadditions of aziridines through a monodentate halogen bond activation.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01119A
Monodentate halogen bond activation of aziridines in formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions
The ring opening of aziridines to produce various N-heterocycles traditionally requires strong Lewis acids or transition metal catalysts, with non-covalent organocatalytic approaches remaining largely...
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 AM
🔓𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 α-𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐬 by Maurizio Benaglia 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭.

Enantioselective organocatalytic α-chlorination of aldehydes via electrochemical activation of the enamine intermediate through a SOMO strategy was investigated.

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5QO01249J
Enantioselective organocatalytic electrochemical α-chlorination of aldehydes
The enantioselective organocatalytic α-chlorination of aldehydes using electrochemistry to activate the enamine intermediate through a SOMO strategy was investigated. Based on mechanistic insights, an...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM