Expression of concern: Dithiocarbamate-mediated thioamidation of arylglyoxylic acids by decarboxylative–decarbonylative C–C bond formation reactions

Abstract

Expression of concern for ‘Dithiocarbamate-mediated thioamidation of arylglyoxylic acids by decarboxylative–decarbonylative C–C bond formation reactions’ by Debabrata Patra et al., Org. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 1686–1693, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3QO00032J.

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The Royal Society of Chemistry is publishing this expression of concern to alert readers that concerns have been raised regarding the reproducibility of the reported synthetic method.

A recently published comment¹ reported that the key thioamidation reaction could not be reproduced as described, with yields of approximately 5% and no observable effect of the Pd(II) catalyst. In their reply,² the authors state that they have reproduced the reaction with high yields and that an external group has also confirmed the results, attributing discrepancies to catalyst specification and experimental conditions.

However, the reaction has not been successfully reproduced according to the updated protocols reported in the authors reply by another two independent research groups invited by the editorial office. The failure may be attributed to subtle differences between the purchased catalysts or to unknown impurities that irreversibly bind to the catalyst and inhibit the reaction, according to independent experts.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is issuing this notice to alert readers that the editorial office does not have sufficient evidence to resolve these conflicting findings or verify the reliability of the reported methodology.

 

Wenjun Liu

18th February 2026

Executive Editor, Organic Chemistry Frontiers

References

1. X. Creary, Comment on “Dithiocarbamate-mediated thioamidation of arylglyoxylic acids by decarboxylative–decarbonylative C–C bond formation reactions” by D. Patra and A. Saha, Org. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 1686, Org. Chem. Front., 2026, 13 10.1039/D4QO00393D.
2. D. Patra and A. Saha, Reply to the ‘Comment on “Dithiocarbamate-mediated thioamidation of arylglyoxylic acids by decarboxylative–decarbonylative C–C bond formation reactions”’ by X. Creary, Org. Chem. Front., 2026, 13, DOI: 10.1039/D4QO00393D, Org. Chem. Front., 2026, 13 10.1039/D4QO01258E.

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