Electrosynthetic access to unsymmetrical oxaza[8]helicenes with high chiral stability and strong circularly polarized luminescence (CPL)

• Tin Zar Aye,
• Rubal Sharma,
• Muthu Karuppasamy,
• Daiya Suzuki,
• Haruka Nakajima,
• Yoshitane Imai,
• Mitsuhiro Arisawa,
• Mohamed S. H. Salem and
• Shinobu Takizawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 372–382, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.25

• Heterohelicenes are compelling chiral π-conjugated scaffolds for optoelectronic and chiral-photonic technologies because their helical frameworks and doped heteroatoms endow them with various photophysical, chiroptical, and electronic merits. However, unsymmetrical heterohelicenes remain rare, as their synthesis

• ; electrochemistry; emission; helical elongation; helicene; photophysical; Introduction Chirality is a pervasive feature of natural and artificial systems, and chiral small molecules continue to underpin advances in chemistry and materials science [1][2]. Among them, helicenes – ortho-condensed polycyclic aromatic

• shortest route reported to any unsymmetrical hetero[8]helicene. We then investigated the structural, photophysical and chiroptical properties of these new oxaza[8]helicenes and benchmarked their behavior against their corresponding oxaza[7]helicene analogues. Results and Discussion Electrosynthesis of

Configuration–packing synergy enabling integrated crystalline-state RTP and amorphous-state TADF

• Ruiyan Wang and
• Yunan Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 224–236, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.16

• exhibit TADF, which is a process where delayed fluorescence is observed due to thermal activation. Alternatively, the material may also exhibit RTP, depending on the environmental conditions and the specific molecular interactions. These findings highlight the promising photophysical properties of 1

• and the intermolecular interactions within the crystal structure of 1, which alter the photophysical properties compared to the isolated monomers. In contrast to traditional light-emitting (LE) processes, which typically exhibit a fine structure due to vibrational transitions and other molecular

• photophysical properties of 1, particularly its ability to exhibit RTP at room temperature. TD-DFT (time-dependent density functional theory) calculations were carried out to explore and analyze the theoretical structure and electronic properties of the compound. These calculations provided valuable insights

Symmetrical D–π–A–π–D indanone dyes: a new design for nonlinear optics and cyanide detection

• Ergin Keleş,
• Alberto Barsella,
• Nurgül Seferoğlu,
• Zeynel Seferoğlu and
• Burcu Aydıner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 131–142, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.6

• photophysical properties of the dyes. The sensitivity/selectivity properties of the dyes to anions were investigated in DMSO and aqueous media, revealing that the dyes were selectively responsive only to cyanide anions. Changes after interactions were determined through absorption spectra and color changes

• under ambient light. In addition, interaction mechanisms of dyes with cyanide were studied using the 1H NMR titration method, and it was determined that they interacted through an addition mechanism. Photophysical properties and interaction mechanisms of the compounds were also supported through density

• spectrometry methods (Figures S1–S10 in Supporting Information File 1). Optical properties of dyes Photophysical properties of dyes 2a–c were assessed in four different organic solvents with various polarities (DMSO, acetone, chloroform, and THF) via absorption spectra and DFT calculations (Table 2). Figure 2a

Thiazolidinones: novel insights from microwave synthesis, computational studies, and potentially bioactive hybrids

• Luan A. Martinho,
• Victor H. J. G. Praciano,
• Guilherme D. R. Matos,
• Claudia C. Gatto and
• Carlos Kleber Z. Andrade

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2618–2636, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.203

• compounds 3n and 4n was carried out using torsion angle analysis and 13C NMR chemical shift calculations to evaluate the absence of expected signals in the NMR spectra of these compounds. Their photophysical properties were also assessed, confirming a preference for a fluorescence mechanism via an ICT

• . Photophysical studies indicated a fluorescence mechanism via intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Results and Discussion Synthesis of 5-arylidene derivatives under microwave heating To find the ideal reaction conditions for the synthesis of 5-arylidene derivatives, benzaldehyde (1a) and rhodanine (2a) were

• -bonded carbon atom. Given that 3n and 4n contain donor–acceptor (DA)-type groups separated by a π-bond, the study of their photophysical properties has become particularly interesting. This structural arrangement often facilitates an internal charge transfer (ICT) process, which is common for such

Rotaxanes with integrated photoswitches: design principles, functional behavior, and emerging applications

• Jullyane Emi Matsushima,
• Khushbu,
• Zuliah Abdulsalam,
• Udyogi Navodya Kulathilaka Conthagamage and
• Víctor García-López

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2345–2366, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.179

• photophysical properties [56]. Contrary to azobenzenes, where the isomerization modulates the position of the macrocycle, in dithienylethene-based rotaxanes, it is the shuttling of the macrocycle that modulates the fluorescence and photoswitching behavior of the dithienylethene. For example, Yin and co-workers

Recent advances in Norrish–Yang cyclization and dicarbonyl photoredox reactions for natural product synthesis

• Peng-Xi Luo,
• Jin-Xuan Yang,
• Shao-Min Fu and
• Bo Liu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2315–2333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.177

• photophysical cycles and thereby enhances selectivity; and (2) promotion of subsequent ground-state processes [34][35]. In this work, the authors innovatively applied the Norrish–Yang reaction of p-benzoquinone to the synthesis of avarane-type meroterpenoids. Starting from the common precursor quinone, they

Solar thermal fuels: azobenzene as a cyclic photon–heat transduction platform

• Jie Yan,
• Shaodong Sun,
• Minghao Wang and
• Si Wu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2036–2047, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.159

• ]. Since Olmsted’s pioneering exploration of azobenzene compounds as solar thermal fuels in 1983 [42], significant breakthroughs have been achieved through interdisciplinary integration of organic synthesis, functional materials engineering, photophysical mechanism analysis, and computational chemistry. So

Understanding the origin of stereoselectivity in the photochemical denitrogenation of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene and its derivatives with non-adiabatic molecular dynamics

• Leticia A. Gomes and
• Steven A. Lopez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2007–2020, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.156

• combined with state-of-the-art multireference quantum mechanical calculations to understand the photophysical properties and mechanisms of these diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes. The energetically accessible lowest excitations are nNN(σCN) → π* and range from 3.94–3.97 eV. From the >292 trajectories, the

• of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes (Scheme 2). This report shows the first multiconfigurational NAMD simulation studies to understand the photochemical denitrogenation mechanism of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes. Results and Discussion We started our studies on characterizing the photophysical

• 0.045. These results show agreement between the electronic nature of the transition of TD-DFT, CASSCF, and CASPT2, showing that the chosen active space can capture the photophysics of the molecules. Table 1 provides the photophysical properties for the optimized ground-state geometry. However

Synthesis of N-doped chiral macrocycles by regioselective palladium-catalyzed arylation

• Shuhai Qiu and
• Junzhi Liu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1917–1923, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.149

• revealed the formation of isomeric products depending on the substituents on the N atoms. Notably, two intrinsically chiral macrocycles MC1 and MC3 with C1 symmetry were successfully obtained. These macrocycles exhibit exceptional photophysical properties, particularly remarkable high fluorescence quantum

• chiral macrocycles, have been reported [17][25], highlighting a critical gap in the design of chiral macrocycles with tailored electronic landscapes. Herein, we reported the synthesis, characterizations and photophysical properties of inherent chiral N-doped macrocycles (Figure 1b) via regioselective

• measurements of photophysical and chiroptical properties. Prof. Zhaohui Wang from Tsinghua University is acknowledged for helpful discussions. We thank the UGC funding administered by HKU for supporting the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Facilities under the Support for Interdisciplinary Research in Chemical

Photoswitches beyond azobenzene: a beginner’s guide

• Michela Marcon,
• Christoph Haag and
• Burkhard König

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1808–1853, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.143

• ; synthesis of photoswitches; switching mechanisms; tutorial review; Introduction Photophysical properties and switching mechanism Key learning points Switching mechanisms and the change in properties. Overview of the major classes of photoswitches beyond azobenzenes. Main synthetic pathways for their

• preparation. Before introducing the different photoswitch classes in this review, we familiarise ourselves with different photophysical properties. A photochromic molecule can switch reversibly between a stable and a metastable state, which are shown in an energetic profile as two local minima (Figure 1

• with a photoswitch, several factors must be considered: substituents, temperature, and solvent strongly affect the photophysical properties. For instance, the presence of electron-withdrawing (for instance -Cl, -Br, -CN, -NO2) and electron-donating groups (-alkyl, -OR, -NR2), which are directly

Photocatalysis and photochemistry in organic synthesis

• Timothy Noël and
• Bartholomäus Pieber

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1645–1647, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.128

• ; photochemistry; Soon after its first reported synthesis in 1936 [1], [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and its derivatives attracted significant attention due to their photophysical properties [2][3][4]. These complexes can efficiently absorb visible light through a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT

On the aromaticity and photophysics of 1-arylbenzo[a]imidazo[5,1,2-cd]indolizines as bicolor fluorescent molecules for barium tagging in the study of double-beta decay of ¹³⁶Xe

• Eric Iván Velazco-Cabral,
• Fernando Auria-Luna,
• Juan Molina-Canteras,
• Miguel A. Vázquez,
• Iván Rivilla and
• Fernando P. Cossío

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1627–1638, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.126

• behavior in the emission spectra. Indeed, initial experiments were successful. However, we observed that translation of the behavior of these FBIs from supramolecular chemistry to solid–gas interfaces raises important issues in terms of both discrimination between free and chelated states and photophysical

• + prompted us to compare the photophysical properties of unbound compound 18 in the presence of Ba(ClO4)2. The values corresponding to the adiabatic absorption (S0(optimized) → S1*, adiabatic absorption) and emission (S1(optimized) → S0, fluorescence) are reported in Table 2, together with the differences

• responsible for the bicolor behavior of the sensor. Interaction with barium perchlorate results in a slightly different coordination pattern, although the bicolor behavior observed in the experimental fluorescence spectra is preserved. These photophysical properties were observed in DFT and TDDFT calculations

Thermodynamic equilibrium between locally excited and charge transfer states in perylene–phenothiazine dyads

• Issei Fukunaga,
• Shunsuke Kobashi,
• Yuki Nagai,
• Hiroki Horita,
• Hiromitsu Maeda and
• Yoichi Kobayashi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1577–1586, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.121

• synthesized and characterized (Figure 1). Their photophysical properties were comprehensively examined by steady-state and time-resolved emission and absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were performed to support the experimental findings

• increases the D–A distance and thus reduces the electronic coupling. The photophysical processes of Pe–PTZ(TPA)2 are summarized in Figure 8. Upon excitation of the PTZ moiety with a 350 nm pulse, transient absorption signals originating from both the excited PTZ moiety and the perylene radical anion were

• critical role of the electronic D–A interaction and the stabilization of the 1LE state of the PTZ moiety by excited-state induced planarization. These results highlight the importance of structural relaxation in the excited state for controlling photophysical properties, and demonstrate that even within a

Advances in nitrogen-containing helicenes: synthesis, chiroptical properties, and optoelectronic applications

• Meng Qiu,
• Jing Du,
• Nai-Te Yao,
• Xin-Yue Wang and
• Han-Yuan Gong

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1422–1453, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.106

• chiroptical and photophysical properties, highlighting the expanding potential of these molecules in chiral optoelectronics. Yorimitsu’s group developed a series of dihetero[8]helicenes through a systematic asymmetric synthesis. Among these, diaza[8]helicene 5 exhibited pronounced chiroptical activity, with

• two radical aza[7]helicenes, 24a and 24b, exhibiting distinct photophysical behaviors [38]. Compound 24b features a higher PLQY (0.43), while 24a demonstrates doublet-state CPL (|glum| = 5.0 × 10−4), highlighting the potential of helicene radicals for spintronic applications. Meng’s group synthesized

• conjugated systems, enabling the design of donor–acceptor helicenes with tunable photophysical properties. In 2020, Ema and co-workers developed a series of chiral carbazole-based BODIPY analogues 35a–f, derived from helical carbazole-based BF2 dyes [49] (Table 11). These analogues exhibit red-shifted

Biobased carbon dots as photoreductants – an investigation by using triarylsulfonium salts

• Valentina Benazzi,
• Arianna Bini,
• Ilaria Bertuol,
• Mariangela Novello,
• Federica Baldi,
• Matteo Hoch,
• Alvise Perosa and
• Stefano Protti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1024–1030, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.84

• recourse to treatments such as pyrolysis, ultrasonic carbonization, hydrothermal, solvothermal, or microwave irradiation [13][14][15][16][17]. The properties of CDs can be tuned by doping them with various elements, which influence photophysical and electrochemical properties, stability, and

• different chemical treatments (hydrothermal and pyrolytic methods). The effect of nitrogen doping on the performance of the examined CDs has been also investigated. Results and Discussion Synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of CDs. As hinted above, CDs have been prepared from different

• effective in the photoreduction of triarylsulfonium salts. However, the nature of the starting material used to prepare the CDs is the most significant parameter influencing both the photophysical and photochemical properties of such carbon nanomaterials. Those obtained from citric acid were found to be the

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-diones by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination reactions

• Ruben Manuel Figueira de Abreu,
• Robin Tiedemann,
• Peter Ehlers and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1010–1017, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.82

• -substituted compound 4h. No conversion was observed for starting materials 3g,h containing electron-withdrawing substituents located at the phenylacetylene moiety (products 4n,p). In addition, no conversion was observed for 3-methylaniline (product 4o). The photophysical properties of selected pyrrolo[3,2-d

• /hydroamination reaction. Synthesis of 4a–m. Conditions: Pd(OAc)2 (5 mol %), DPEphos (5 mol %), K3PO4 (3 equiv), DMA, 100 °C, 15 h. Yields of isolated products. Optimization of the synthesis of 4a. Photophysical data of 4a, 4j, 4k, 4l, and 4m in dichloromethane (c = 1·10−5 M) at 20 °C. Supporting Information

On the photoluminescence in triarylmethyl-centered mono-, di-, and multiradicals

• Daniel Straub,
• Markus Gross,
• Mona E. Arnold,
• Julia Zolg and
• Alexander J. C. Kuehne

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 964–998, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.80

Study of tribenzo[b,d,f]azepine as donor in D–A photocatalysts

• Katy Medrano-Uribe,
• Jorge Humbrías-Martín and
• Luca Dell’Amico

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 935–944, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.76

• interesting photophysical properties compared to common substrates like c, diphenylamine (d), and phenoxazine (e) [28][29][30]. However, their potential as D-unit in organic PCs remains unexplored. For this reason, studying this avenue could unlock new opportunities for the synthesis and design of more

• powerful, efficient and versatile organic photocatalysts. We herein present the design, synthesis and study of a new sulfur-based D–A family using diverse nitrogen donors (Figure 1b). We performed complete photophysical characterization of the diverse D–A molecules to analyze the structure–properties

• relationships. We further studied their photocatalytic potential as bimodal PCs and demonstrated their potential use in different reductive and oxidative quenching processes. Results and Discussion Photophysical properties analysis We started our study with three different sulfur-based acceptors, namely

Substituent effects in N-acetylated phenylazopyrazole photoswitches

• Radek Tovtik,
• Dennis Marzin,
• Pia Weigel,
• Stefano Crespi and
• Nadja A. Simeth

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 830–838, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.66

• eleven novel compounds that we could compare to a set of 22 NMe-PAPs and NH-PAPs. We then analyzed the molecules' photophysical and photochemical properties and studied the metastable isomers' thermal relaxation mechanism. In particular, photophysical studies highlighted the impact of structural

• structural modifications affect the synthesis, photochemical, and thermal behavior of PAP derivatives introducing NAc-PAPs as novel compound set with enhanced photochemical performance. Our findings provide valuable guidance for designing functional PAPs with tailor-made photochemistry and photophysical

• synthesizing NH-substituted, methylated-, and acetylated arylazopyrazoles. Conditions: A) NaNO2, AcOH + HCl at 0 °C, then, 2,4-pentanedione, NaOAc in EtOH + H2O, reflux; B) MeNHNH2, EtOH, reflux; C) NH2NH2, EtOH, reflux; D) AcCl, NaOAc in DCM, 0 °C to rt. Photophysical properties of synthesized PAP derivatives

Synthesis and photoinduced switching properties of C₇-heteroatom containing push–pull norbornadiene derivatives

• Daniel Krappmann and
• Andreas Hirsch

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 807–816, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.64

• investigation of photophysical key properties for molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems was not pursued at this stage. The limited availability of material, combined with the thermal instability of the formed QC species, precluded the determination of half-lifes and storage densities. Additionally, as all NBD

• to QC conversions were either incomplete due to photodecomposition or led to the formation of additional species, it was not feasible to ascertain isomerization quantum yields. Conclusion In summary, we have presented the synthesis and photophysical properties of a library of heterocyclic push–pull

Carbon-rich materials: from polyaromatic molecules to fullerenes and other carbon allotropes

• Hiroko Yamada and
• Yoko Yamakoshi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 798–799, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.62

• their unique electronic and photophysical properties, research in the area of carbon-rich molecules and polyaromatic molecules became explosive in their activity and a numerous new studies and directions have emerged. Because of dramatic expansion and development of these research areas, these molecules

Photochemically assisted synthesis of phenacenes fluorinated at the terminal benzene rings and their electronic spectra

• Yuuki Ishii,
• Minoru Yamaji,
• Fumito Tani,
• Kenta Goto,
• Yoshihiro Kubozono and
• Hideki Okamoto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 670–679, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.53

• reference. The selected photophysical parameters are summarized in Table 1. The fluorescence excitation spectra were consistent with absorption spectra to unambiguously assign the fluorescence bands to the studied F8-phenacenes (Figure S1 in Supporting Information File 1). In the UV–vis spectra, a small

• (reflux for F8FUL); c) Pd(PPh3)4, toluene, reflux; d) hν, I2, toluene, reflux. Photophysical parameters for F8-phenacenes and the parent phenacenes. Calculated vertical electronic transitions for F8-phenacenes and the parent phenacenes. Supporting Information Supporting Information File 20: Excitation

Deep-blue emitting 9,10-bis(perfluorobenzyl)anthracene

• Long K. San,
• Sebastian Balser,
• Brian J. Reeves,
• Tyler T. Clikeman,
• Yu-Sheng Chen,
• Steven H. Strauss and
• Olga V. Boltalina

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 515–525, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.39

• have promising applications in optoelectronics. For example, investigation of the photophysical and electronic properties of ANTH began in the 1960s [1][2][3], and since then many new ANTH derivatives have been synthesized and explored for their use as fluorescent probes, organic semiconductors, and

• , respectively. In this work, we explored the effects of the bulky and electron-withdrawing substituent perfluorobenzyl (BnF) on the photophysical properties and on the air- and photostability of ANTH for the first time. We hypothesized that the steric bulk of BnF and the flexibility of the –CF2– moiety between

• increasing n [22]. In this work, we report the first synthesis of ANTH(BnF)n derivatives (n = 1, 2), molecular and solid-state structures, and their photophysical properties. Results and Discussion Synthesis Perfluoroalkylation of anthracene has been previously achieved by bottom-up syntheses [23], three

Unprecedented visible light-initiated topochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition in a functionalized bimane dye

• Metodej Dvoracek,
• Brendan Twamley,
• Mathias O. Senge and
• Mikhail A. Filatov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 500–509, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.37

• light irradiation, undergoing rearrangement and photodegradation, so there may be a risk of degradation if irradiation using UV light is tried. Alternatively, the lack of a [2 + 2] cycloaddition of Me2B, may be due to its photophysical properties not allowing for a reaction to occur, rather than the

• its photophysical properties. While a pure sample of the dimer has not yet been isolated, a UV–vis spectrum of Cl2B after 1.75 hours of irradiation in DCM was recorded. The peak corresponding to the remaining monomer was observed, along with a new peak blueshifted by 47 nm compared to the parent

• 1:1 (v/v) solution which was left to evaporate at room temperature over the course of a few days. Photophysical properties Fluorescence spectra were measured on a Horiba FluoroMax Plus spectrofluorimeter. UV–vis spectra were measured on a Shimadzu UV-1900i UV–vis spectrophotometer. Absorption and

Synthesis of N-acetyl diazocine derivatives via cross-coupling reaction

• Thomas Brandt,
• Pascal Lentes,
• Jeremy Rudtke,
• Michael Hösgen,
• Christian Näther and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 490–499, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.36

• Abstract Diazocines are photoswitches derived from azobenzenes by bridging the two phenyl rings in ortho position with a CH2CH2 group forming an eight membered (diazocine) ring. Diazocine is superior to most azobenzenes in almost all photophysical properties (switching efficiency, quantum yield

• photoswitches with superior photophysical properties. The parent ethylene-bridged diazocine shows excellent switching photoconversion between the Z and the E configurations (Γ(Z → E)385nm = 92% and Γ(E → Z)520nm > 99% in n-hexane) due to well-separated n–π*-transitions in the visible part of the electromagnetic

• ). The reverse effect was observed with amino-substituted 21. The photophysical properties of photoswitchable drugs in photopharmacology are usually determined in organic solvents. Their natural environment, however, is the aqueous phase. There is a risk of overestimating the performance of photochromic