Synthetic chemistry methodology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Synthetic chemistry methodology refers to the methods used for the synthesis of chemical compounds.

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Latest Research and Reviews

  • Research
    | Open Access

    The versatility and importance of β,γ-unsaturated ketones has been appreciated for a long time in synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Here, the authors use carboxylic acids and readily available olefins as substrates for transformations involving N‑heterocyclic carbene catalysis, hydrogen atom transfer catalysis, and photoredox catalysis for the synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated ketones.

    • Xiaochen Wang
    • , Rongxin Yang
    •  & Qingmin Wang
    Nature Communications 14, 2951

  • Research |

    1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions are well-known transformations in organic synthesis. However, the reactivity of benzene rings in these processes is underexplored. In situ-generated diazoalkenes have now been shown to undergo intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with aromatic rings. The transformation results in an unaromatized benzene ring that enables the synthesis of functionalized heterocycles.

    • Shubhangi Aggarwal
    • , Alexander Vu
    •  & Valery V. Fokin
    Nature Chemistry, 1-9

  • Research
    | Open Access

    Enantioselective α-allylic allenylation of carbonyls is a straightforward approach to access chiral allenes that are of significant relevance as synthons and bio-active products. Here, the Luo group describe an asymmetric α-allylic allenylation of β-ketocarbonyls and aldehydes with 1,3-enynes, via a combined chiral primary amine and palladium catalyst system.

    • Chang You
    • , Mingying Shi
    •  & Sanzhong Luo
    Nature Communications 14, 2911

  • Reviews |

    The structure and properties of cyclopropane have intrigued chemists for decades, with an increasing demand for methods to functionalize these small carbocycles. This Review provides a summary of transition-metal-catalysed C–C bond formation at cyclopropanes, including cross-coupling with cyclopropyl nucleophiles or electrophiles, C–H functionalization and single-electron cross-coupling strategies.

    • Alexis L. Gabbey
    • , Katerina Scotchburn
    •  & Sophie A. L. Rousseaux
    Nature Reviews Chemistry, 1-13

  • Research |

    trans-Bis-silylation of alkynes is underdeveloped compared with cis-bis-silylation. Now, a Pd-catalysed method for the trans-bis-silylation of terminal alkynes is reported using disilane reagent 8-(2-substituted 1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilanyl)quinoline to selectively form trans-bis-silylated alkenes. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction probably proceeds through a combined cis-bis-silylation and Z/E isomerization process.

    • Shuang Zhao
    • , Yun Zhang
    •  & Dongbing Zhao
    Nature Synthesis, 1-12
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News and Comment

  • News & Views |

    Dipolar cycloadditions are excellent processes for generating heterocyclic systems from simple starting materials, but arenes as dipolarophiles have not been extensively explored. Now, the intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition of aromatic rings has been achieved using in situ generated diazoalkenes to produce bicyclic or tricyclic heterocycles.

    • Abraham Ustoyev
    •  & Mitchell P. Croatt
    Nature Chemistry, 1-2

  • News & Views |

    Aromatic molecules with multiple one-half twists are synthesized using different precursors and synthetic routes. The pseudo-helicoidal structural chirality of these molecules and the loop of the twisted π-electronic structure fully overlap, thus giving rise to enhanced chiroptical responses.

    • Qian Miao
    •  & Juan Casado
    Nature Synthesis, 1-3

  • Comments & Opinion |

    As artificial intelligence (AI) proliferates, synthetic chemistry stands to benefit from its progress. Despite hidden variables and ‘unknown unknowns’ in datasets that may impede the realization of a digital twin for the laboratory flask, there are many opportunities to leverage AI and large datasets to advance synthesis science.

    • Nicholas David
    • , Wenhao Sun
    •  & Connor W. Coley
    Nature Computational Science 3, 362-364

  • News & Views |

    Catenanes that are chiral owing to the relative orientation of their rings have always been referred to as ‘topologically chiral’. It is now shown that although in specific cases the stereochemistry is a topological property of the structure, the underlying stereogenic unit itself is not inherently topological in nature.

    Nature Chemistry, 1-2
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