Archive for July, 2025

Ning Jiao selects his Editor’s Choice in synthetic chemistry

Professor Ning Jiao’s Editor’s Choice

We are delighted to share with you our latest Editor’s Choice collection that presents a selection of notable research contributions in synthetic chemistry from 2023 to 2024.

The featured articles selected by Ning demonstrate significant methodological developments such as nitrogen insertion reactions for heterocycle synthesis, machine learning applications for reaction prediction, and innovative bioisostere design for drug discovery.

The collection also highlights advances in organocatalysis, photochemistry, and transition metal catalysis, covering diverse transformations such as C-H functionalization, cycloadditions, and radical reactions. Several studies focus on the synthesis of structurally complex or strained molecules, while others explore sustainable approaches under mild conditions.

These carefully selected works represent rigorous and impactful research, offering valuable insights for synthetic chemists across both fundamental and applied contexts.

Professor Jiao considers work at the forefront of synthetic chemistry, including significant advances in catalysis and organic methodology. Submit your best manuscripts on these topics to Chemical Science for Professor Jiao’s consideration.

We hope you enjoy reading this selection of articles selected by Professor Ning Jiao.

 

Nitrogen atom insertion into indenes to access isoquinolines
Patrick Finkelstein, Julia C. Reisenbauer, Bence B. Botlik, Ori Green, Andri Florin, Bill Morandi

 

On the use of real-world datasets for reaction yield prediction
Mandana Saebi, Bozhao Nan, John E. E. Herr, Jessica Wahlers, Zhichun Guo, Andrzej M. M. Zuranski, Thierry Kogej, Per-Ola Norrby, Abigail G. G. Doyle, Nitesh V. V. Chawla, Olaf Wiest

Graphical abstract: On the use of real-world datasets for reaction yield prediction

 

1,2-Disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as saturated bioisosteres of ortho-substituted benzene
Aleksandr Denisenko, Pavel Garbuz, Yelyzaveta Makovetska, Oleh Shablykin, Dmytro Lesyk, Galeb Al-Maali, Rodion Korzh, Iryna V. Sadkova, Pavel K. Mykhailiuk

Graphical abstract: 1,2-Disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as saturated bioisosteres of ortho-substituted benzene

 

In situ polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane and formation of fluorine/boron-rich interfaces enabled by film-forming additives for long-life lithium metal batteries
Ting Li, Kai Chen, Borui Yang, Kun Li, Bin Li, Miao He, Liu Yang, Anjun Hu, Jianping Long

Graphical abstract: In situ polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane and formation of fluorine/boron-rich interfaces enabled by film-forming additives for long-life lithium metal batteries

 

Synthesis of polysubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes enabling access to new chemical space
Marius Reinhold, Justin Steinebach, Christopher Golz, Johannes C. L. Walker

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of polysubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes enabling access to new chemical space

 

Lewis acid-catalyzed diastereoselective carbofunctionalization of bicyclobutanes employing naphthols
Avishek Guin, Subrata Bhattacharjee, Mahesh Singh Harariya, Akkattu T. Biju

Graphical abstract: Lewis acid-catalyzed diastereoselective carbofunctionalization of bicyclobutanes employing naphthols

 

Cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective C-H/N-H annulation of aryl sulfonamides with allenes or alkynes: facile access to C-N axially chiral sultams
Xiao-Ju Si, Xiaofang Zhao, Jianli Wang, Xinhai Wang, Yuanshuo Zhang, Dandan Yang, Mao-Ping Song, Jun-Long Niu

Graphical abstract: Cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective C–H/N–H annulation of aryl sulfonamides with allenes or alkynes: facile access to C–N axially chiral sultams

 

Lemniscular carbon nanohoops with contiguous conjugation from planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane: influence of the regioselective synthesis on topological chirality
Jing He, Mo-Han Yu, Zhe Lian, Yan-Qing Fan, Sheng-Zhu Guo, Xiao-Nan Li, Ying Wang, Wen-Guang Wang, Zhi-Yun Cheng, Hua Jiang

Graphical abstract: Lemniscular carbon nanohoops with contiguous conjugation from planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane: influence of the regioselective synthesis on topological chirality

 

Triarylamines as catalytic donors in light-mediated electron donor-acceptor complexes
Durbis J. Castillo-Pazos, Juan D. Lasso, Ehsan Hamzehpoor, Jorge Ramos-Sanchez, Jan Michael Salgado, Gonzalo Cosa, Dmytro F. Perepichka, Chao-Jun Li

Graphical abstract: Triarylamines as catalytic donors in light-mediated electron donor–acceptor complexes

 

Metal-free photosensitized radical relay 1,4-carboimination across two distinct olefins
Guangying Tan, Fritz Paulus, Alessia Petti, Maxim-Aleksa Wiethoff, Anna Lauer, Constantin Daniliuc, Frank Glorius

Graphical abstract: Metal-free photosensitized radical relay 1,4-carboimination across two distinct olefins

 

2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as rigidified cyclopentane variants
Shashwati Paul, Daniel Adelfinsky, Christophe Salome, Thomas Fessard, M. Kevin Brown

Graphical abstract: 2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as rigidified cyclopentane variants

 

Transition metal-free photochemical C-F activation for the preparation of difluorinated-oxindole derivatives
Bianca Matsuo, Jadab Majhi, Albert Granados, Mohammed Sharique, Robert T. Martin, Osvaldo Gutierrez, Gary A. Molander

Graphical abstract: Transition metal-free photochemical C–F activation for the preparation of difluorinated-oxindole derivatives

 

Stereoselective alkyl C-glycosylation of glycosyl esters via anomeric C-O bond homolysis: efficient access to C-glycosyl amino acids and C-glycosyl peptides
Anrong Chen, Shiyin Zhao, Yang Han, Zhenghong Zhou, Bo Yang, Lan-Gui Xie, Maciej A. Walczak, Feng Zhu

Graphical abstract: Stereoselective alkyl C-glycosylation of glycosyl esters via anomeric C–O bond homolysis: efficient access to C-glycosyl amino acids and C-glycosyl peptides

 

Lewis acid catalyzed [4+2] annulation of bicyclobutanes with dienol ethers for the synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.1]octanes
Stefano Nicolai, Jerome Waser

Graphical abstract: Lewis acid catalyzed [4+2] annulation of bicyclobutanes with dienol ethers for the synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.1]octanes

 

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative (4+3) cycloadditions of bicyclobutanes with 2-alkylidenetrimethylene carbonates for the synthesis of 2-oxabicyclo[4.1.1]octanes
Xin-Yu Gao, Lei Tang, Xu Zhang, Jian-Jun Feng

Graphical abstract: Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative (4 + 3) cycloadditions of bicyclobutanes with 2-alkylidenetrimethylene carbonates for the synthesis of 2-oxabicyclo[4.1.1]octanes

 

Visible-light-driven alkene dicarboxylation with formate and CO2 under mild conditions
Fulin Zhang, Xiao-Yang Wu, Pan-Pan Gao, Hao Zhang, Zhu Li, Shangde Ai, Gang Li

Graphical abstract: Visible-light-driven alkene dicarboxylation with formate and CO2 under mild conditions

 

One-pot asymmetric living copolymerization-induced chiral self-assemblies and circularly polarized luminescence
Run-Tan Gao, Shi-Yi Li, Bing-Hao Liu, Zheng Chen, Na Liu, Li Zhou, Zong-Quan Wu

Graphical abstract: One-pot asymmetric living copolymerization-induced chiral self-assemblies and circularly polarized luminescence

 

De novo synthesis of inherently chiral heteracalix[4]aromatics from enantioselective macrocyclization enabled by chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed intramolecular SNAr reaction
Xing-Chi Li, Ying Cheng, Xu-Dong Wang, Shuo Tong, Mei-Xiang Wang

Graphical abstract: De novo synthesis of inherently chiral heteracalix[4]aromatics from enantioselective macrocyclization enabled by chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed intramolecular SNAr reaction

 

If you are interested in similar areas, explore our most popular organic and catalysis themed collections!

Chemical Science is the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, publishing exceptional research across the chemical sciences. As a diamond open access journal, all of our articles are free to read and free to publish – find out more and browse our latest articles on our webpage.

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