{"title":"Pyridyl Phosphonium Salts: A Comprehensive Account of Their Preparation, Reactivity, and Synthetic Applications","authors":"Eklakh Ansari,Manish Kumar Sharma,Anand Ratnam,Nazar Hussain","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01118g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01118g","url":null,"abstract":"Pyridyl phosphonium salts have emerged as a versatile class of synthetic reagents for the regioselective C4 functionalization of pyridines and related N-heteroarenes, providing an effective platform for the modification of electron-deficient azaarenes. These salts can be readily prepared as stable, free-flowing solids and isolated without the need for chromatographic purifications. Moreover, such reagents showed excellent air and thermal stability and enable the construction of diverse C-C and C-heteroatom bonds under mild reaction conditions. Since the pioneering work reported in 2016, the synthetic utility of pyridyl phosphonium salts has expanded considerably to encompass cross-coupling, pyridine-pyridine coupling, photocatalytic transformations, carboxylation, sulfonylation, halogenation, alkylation, fluoroalkylation, amination, hydrogen isotope exchange, and other valuable transformations. To the best of our knowledge, this review represents the first comprehensive account dedicated exclusively to pyridyl phosphonium salts, covering their preparation, reactivity, and synthetic applications. Particular emphasis is placed on reaction scope, substrate compatibility, mechanistic insights, and the advantages and limitations of the reported methodologies. Representative applications in late-stage functionalization are highlighted, together with current challenges and future perspectives for the continued development of pyridyl phosphonium salt chemistry.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149151938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raj Sunil Wandre,Maryam Nabi,Kirti Sharma,Amol B. Gade
{"title":"Micellar Iron Catalysis for Aromatic C–H Hydroxylation","authors":"Raj Sunil Wandre,Maryam Nabi,Kirti Sharma,Amol B. Gade","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01366j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01366j","url":null,"abstract":"Herein, we report an iron-catalyzed strategy for the hydroxylation of arenes and heteroarenes. The process employs a recyclable amphiphilic ligand that self-assembles in water to generate micellar aggregates capable of hosting the catalytic iron species. These metallo-aggregates provide a confined microenvironment and promote aromatic C–H hydroxylation under relatively mild conditions. A range of arenes, heteroarenes, and pharmaceutically important molecules are converted to the corresponding phenols, favoring mono-hydroxylation.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149151942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Faverio,João Gabriel Ribeiro,Mehmet Kaplan,Gabriele Kociok-Köhn,Tony D. James,G. Dan Pantoş,Simon E. Lewis
{"title":"Synthesis of azulene fluorophores reveals structure–property relationships","authors":"Chiara Faverio,João Gabriel Ribeiro,Mehmet Kaplan,Gabriele Kociok-Köhn,Tony D. James,G. Dan Pantoş,Simon E. Lewis","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01099g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01099g","url":null,"abstract":"We report the synthesis, photophysical characterisation, and crystallographic analysis of a series of substituted azulenes. The compounds are analogues of the known fluorophore diethyl 2-amino-6-hydroxyazulene-1,3-dicarboxylate, in which the electron-withdrawing groups at C1 and C3 have been retained, but the electron-donating groups at C2 and C6 have been systematically varied. Correlations were observed between the nature of the C2 and C6 substituents and the fluorescence quantum yields and emission maxima; on this basis trends in the structure–property relationship have been elucidated. A novel azulene exhibiting a five-fold increase in quantum yield over the previously known fluorophore has been identified.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149151944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Davide Andrea Coppini,Victoria Sinka,Carla Alamillo-Ferrer,Israel Fernández,Jordi Burés,Juan I. Padrón
{"title":"Diastereoselective TMSOTf-mediated alkyne-Prins cyclisation to access mono- and bicyclic Δ-vinyltriflated disubstituted -2,7-oxepenes","authors":"Davide Andrea Coppini,Victoria Sinka,Carla Alamillo-Ferrer,Israel Fernández,Jordi Burés,Juan I. Padrón","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01120a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01120a","url":null,"abstract":"A TMSOTf-mediated diastereoselective methodology was developed to access mono- and bicyclic Δ3-vinyltriflated disubstituted 2,7-cis-oxepenes via an alkyne-Prins cyclisation. This method synthesises seven-membered oxacycles bearing a vinyltriflate group, enabling rapid access to molecular complexity and multiple derivatisations in a single step. The reaction is completely diastereoselective, yielding only the disubstituted 2,7-cis-oxepene diastereoisomer, facilitating subsequent derivatisation through well-established reactions. A combined experimental and DFT mechanistic investigation of this reaction, complemented by stability studies, enabled us to identify the optimal reaction conditions, establish the mass balance, and substantiate the proposed reaction mechanism.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149067425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heating-induced cascade annulation of CF 3 -imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides with thioamides for the synthesis of multi-substituted imidazolines via sulfur and acyl migration","authors":"Zhenwei Yu,Yu Zhang,Zhengkai Chen","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01167e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01167e","url":null,"abstract":"A facile and straightforward approach for the synthesis of sulfur and trifluoromethyl-substituted imidazolines has been achieved through only heating-reduced cascade annulation of CF3-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides (TFISYs) with thioamides, in which the unexpected sulfur and acyl group migration are involved. The developed protocol offers an expedient access to biologically valuable highly substituted 2-imidazoline derivatives.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149067422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visible-light-driven radical difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-allyl and N-homoallyl aldehyde hydrazones with [Ph3PCF2H]+Br","authors":"Jin-Kui Chai,Li-Li Wang,Shi-Long Zhang,Xiao-Xiao Zhu,Jin-Wei Yuan,Yong-Mei Xiao,Shouren Zhang,Lingbo Qu","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01138a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01138a","url":null,"abstract":"A visible-light-driven radical difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-allyl and N-homoallyl aldehyde hydrazones is reported using readily accessible bromodifluoromethylphosphonium bromide ([Ph3PCF2H]+Br-) as a bench-stable difluoromethyl radical source. This transformation enables efficient access to difluoroalkyl-substituted dihydropyrazoles and tetrahydropyridazines under mild, additive-and base-free conditions. Selected dihydropyrazole products also undergo a subsequent photocatalytic dehydrogenation to give the corresponding difluoroalkylated pyrazoles. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that the reaction proceeds via a difluoromethyl radical-mediated cascade cyclization pathway.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"196 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149067423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Remote and Site-Selective C–H Functionalization of Benzamides Enabled by Palladium 1,7-Migration","authors":"Norman Le Floch,Thierry Roisnel,Henri Doucet","doi":"10.1039/d6qo00906a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo00906a","url":null,"abstract":"Palladium migration represents an attractive strategy for the functionalization of otherwise difficult-to-activate C–H bonds. Among these processes, Pd 1,4-migration was the most extensively studied, although examples of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,5-migrations have also been reported. In contrast, Pd 1,7-migration enabling the functionalization of distal C–H bonds remains exceedingly rare. The functionalization of specific C-H bonds of (hetero)arenes is a topic currently receiving significant attention, as it may enable the preparation of complex molecules in fewer steps. Herein, we report that N-(2-bromobenzyl)carboxamides bearing (hetero)aryl substituents on the amide undergo selective heteroarylation at the benzamide ring, rather than at the benzyl moiety, in the presence of heteroarenes and a palladium catalyst. Mechanistic investigations suggest that this transformation proceeds through an unusual Pd 1,7-migration, enabling C–C bond formation via dual C–H bond functionalization, while the bromobenzyl substituent behaves as a traceless directing group. The method tolerates a broad range of heteroarenes and benzamide derivatives. This strategy provides a synthetically valuable and regioselective approach to the heteroarylation of benzamides, particularly because the preparation of ortho-brominated benzamide substrates is often challenging.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"219 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149067424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visible-light-driven electron donor-acceptor complex induced C-H functionalization of 2-arylindoles with α-Br ketones","authors":"Baoheng Wu,Tao Chen,Dengshan Pan,Tianyi Liu,Jinglin Liu,Jiuming Li,Ning Xu,Hua Xiao,Liang Xu,Xinxin Jin,Wei-Lei Zhou,He Li","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01260d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01260d","url":null,"abstract":"Existing synthetic approaches for synthesizing 1-(2-aryl-indol-3-yl)propan-2-one derivatives often depend on expensive catalysts and harsh conditions, making their synthesis from chemical feedstocks challenging. Herein, we present a sustainable metal-and photocatalyst-free, cost-effective, visible light electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex-mediated synthesis of 1-(2-aryl-indol-3-yl)propan-2-one derivatives via C-H functionalization using 2-arylindoles (donor) with α-Br ketones (acceptor) under mild conditions, offering a more efficient and straightforward approach. In addition to its excellent functional group tolerance, this strategy exhibits remarkable applicability for the late-stage modification of drug molecules, delivering 22 examples of 2-arylindoles and 42 examples of α-Br ketones. Detailed mechanistic studies disclosed the formation of an EDA-complex, and radical trapping and radical clock experiments suggested the involvement of a radical-based mechanism for the product formation.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149067319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solvent Controlled Palladium-Catalyzed β-Regioselective Hydroamination of Allenoates with Azole Heterocycles","authors":"Kaixuan Pan,Xin Bai,Wanshu Wang,Lu Gao,Zhenlei Song,Xiaoxiao Tang","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01177b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01177b","url":null,"abstract":"Herein, we report a solvent-controlled palladium-catalyzed regiodivergent hydroamination of allenoates with azole heterocycles. By simply switching solvent polarity and coordination ability, two structurally distinct β-regioselective products-a kinetic non-conjugated isomer and a thermodynamic conjugated isomer-are exclusively formed under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies reveal that solvent modulates the coordination environment of the π-allyl Pd(II) intermediate, enabling switchable σ-π-σ isomerization and site-selective protonation. This operationally simple approach provides efficient access to diverse β-azole-substituted alkenes with precise control over selectivity.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149019683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniel Valles,Saikat Das,Subhrashis Banerjee,Subhradeep Dutta,Weijie Chen,Martin Breugst,Mathew J. Vetticatt,Daniel Seidel
{"title":"Deciphering Competing Reaction Pathways in the α-C-H Functionalization of Unprotected Alicyclic Amines via Ketone-Mediated Hydride Transfer","authors":"Daniel Valles,Saikat Das,Subhrashis Banerjee,Subhradeep Dutta,Weijie Chen,Martin Breugst,Mathew J. Vetticatt,Daniel Seidel","doi":"10.1039/d6qo01213b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6qo01213b","url":null,"abstract":"Alicyclic amines are pervasive in pharmaceuticals and natural products, yet direct α-C-H functionalization of unprotected secondary amines remains a long-standing challenge. Building on the historical oxidation of lithium amides by ketones, we present a combined experimental and computational study that establishes the mechanistic basis for α-functionalization of these substrates. Competition experiments, ReactIR monitoring, kinetic isotope effects, and DFT calculations demonstrate that imine formation proceeds through concerted hydride transfer from solvent-coordinated monomeric lithium amides. Nucleophilic addition of lithium amides to the ketone oxidant is identified as a major yield-limiting side reaction and is shown to depend strongly on amine ring size, oxidant electrophilicity, and steric effects. Regioselectivity in α-substituted amines arises from a combination of steric and electronic factors governing C-H bond activation. These findings clarify the fundamental reactivity of lithium amides and provide a practical platform for the synthesis of polysubstituted alicyclic amines without protecting groups or transition metals.","PeriodicalId":97,"journal":{"name":"Organic Chemistry Frontiers","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149013646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}