Themed collection How does it work? – a collection on mechanistic studies

The synthesis of polymers using elemental sulphur as a reagent has been studied in relation to the worldwide overproduction of cyclo-octasulphur.

Imidazole and its derivatives are privileged N-heterocyclic structures present in various natural products and synthetic pharmaceuticals.

The current manuscript describes the importance, mechanism propositions, evidence and controversies associated with multicomponent reactions (MCRs).

Recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed C–CN bond activation, leading to a lot of important approaches such as cyanofunctionalization, cross-coupling and cyanation, are reviewed.

The unconventional Z-selective halosulfonylation of terminal alkynes has been achieved by using CuX (X = Cl, Br, I)/sulfonohydrazides at rt, providing a practical and new route for the synthesis of diverse halogenated vinyl sulfones.

DFT calculations show that the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thiocyclobutanone S-methylide with nitroethene takes place according to a polar, two-step mechanism with a zwitterionic intermediate.

A scalable, operationally easy intermolecular hydrophosphinylation of various unactivated alkenes with H–P(O) compounds via an Ag(I)-initiated free radical process was developed. Mechanistic studies suggest that atom transfer processes were involved in this system.

Metal, oxidant and other additive-free novel methods for direct C–H aryloxylation of aliphatic amines are developed. Divergent reaction for the synthesis of ring-fused oxazine and arylmethylamine is developed.

The different reactivity and selectivities of isomeric E/Z β-nitrostyrenes in polar zw-type [3+2] cycloaddition reactions is explained within MEDT.

An innovative metal-free oxidative protocol for azo compound formation catalyzed by substoichiometric amounts of molecular iodine (2 mol%) is disclosed.

The Cu(I)-catalyzed mechanism of 5-enamined-functionalized fully substituted 1,2,3-triazole synthesis was rationalized by interrupted copper(I)-catalyzed terminal alkynes and organic azides click reaction (CuAAC).

A novel synthesis of furocoumarins was developed by a reaction between oxime esters and 4-hydroxycoumarins.

The roles of Fe³⁺ and SO₄²⁻ are different at low and high temperatures due to their interaction. It is the appropriate contents of Fe³⁺ and SO₄²⁻ that can result in high NH₃-SCR activity at varying temperatures.

In this study, we describe a method using sulfoxonium ylides as carbene precursors to achieve C6-selective acylmethylation of pyridones catalyzed by a ruthenium(II) complex.

The present study demonstrates the important role of alcohols themselves as electron donors for their oxidative transformations to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in the absence of any metal/oxidant and external photosensitizer.

Heteropolyacids and ionic liquid effect allowed tuning of the Biginelli reaction mechanism and synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one/thione derivatives in an efficient, recyclable fashion. The role of acidic strength and supported heteropolyacid is disclosed.

A highly efficient, metal free rapid protocol studied mechanistically the oxidation of primary and secondary amines to their corresponding carbonyl compounds using PhI(OAc)₂ and catalytic TEMPO to provide diverse products in excellent yields.

Enantio narcissistic self-assembly is observed in a multi-metallic structure used as stereodynamic probe for CD measurements.

Analysis of the global and local electrophilicity/nucleophilicity indices allows correct explanation of the behaviors of the copper(i) catalyzed 32CA reaction.

Ni_xP–Al-M catalysts were synthesized with different Ni/P molar ratios and loadings, which displayed high HDA activity and decalin selectivity.

Lowering the polarity of the solvent disfavors the olefin insertion step and the formation of cyclobuteneboron product.

Six cis-dioxo molybdenum(VI) complexes of D-glucose derived ligands have been applied as catalysts for the selective transformation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides, and kinetics as well as mechanistic aspects of this reaction have been explored.

A facile [3 + 2]cycloaddition/oxidation/aromatization cascade reaction for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and indolizino[8,7-b]indoles has been developed by employing tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI).

Activation of DMSO to work as an economical and environmentally benign one-carbon synthon has been achieved by using a bench-top reagent ammonium persulfate for general and efficient access to symmetrical methylenebisamides from primary amides.

A series of molecular complexes have been designed, synthesized and used as organo-catalysts for the first time for very efficient Knoevenagel condensation.