We are really pleased to announce here that our research article at J. Am. Chem. Soc., entitled "Intracellular Synthesis of Indoles Enabled by Visible-Light Photocatalysis" and authored by C. D'Avino, S. Gutiérrez, M. J. Feldhaus, M. Tomás-Gamasa and J. L. Mascareñas has been accepted and it's already on-line (gold Open Access).

Abstract: Performing abiotic synthetic transformations in live cell environments represents a new, promising approach to interrogate and manipulate biology and to uncover new types of biomedical tools. We now found that photocatalytic bond-forming reactions can be added to the toolbox of bioorthogonal synthetic chemistry. Specifically, we demonstrate that exogenous styryl aryl azides can be converted into indoles inside living mammalian cells under photocatalytic conditions.

External link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c13647

Abstract: Cobalt(I) catalysts equipped with bisphosphine ligands can be used to promote formal (3 + 2 + 2) intramolecular cycloadditions of enynylidenecyclopropanes of type 1. The method provides synthetically appealing 5,7,5-fused tricyclic systems in good yields and with complete diastereo- and chemoselectivity. Interestingly, its scope differs from that of previously reported annulations based on precious metal catalysts, specifically rhodium and palladium. Noticeably, density functional theory calculations confirm that the mechanism of the reaction is also different from those proposed for these other catalysts.

External link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03511

Abstract: This article describes the discovery and development of a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric C–H olefination of 2-hydroxybiaryls. The strategy allows a direct assembly of optically active, axially chiral 2-substituted-2′-hydroxybiaryls from readily available precursors and demonstrates that the native hydroxy unit of the substrates can work as an efficient directing group for the C–H activation. This represents a substantial advantage over other approaches that require the preinstallation of metal coordinating units. The simplicity of the approach and versatility of the products allow a practical and efficient synthesis of a broad variety of optically active binaphthyl derivatives

External link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.3c03867

Abstract: Cationic cyclopentadienyl Ru(II) catalysts can efficiently promote mild intermolecular alkyne-alkene couplings in aqueous media, even in the presence of different biomolecular components, and in complex media like DMEM. The method can also be used for the derivatization of aminoacids and peptides, therefore proposing a new way to label biomolecules with external tags. This C-C bond-forming reaction, based on simple alkene and alkyne reactants, can now be added to the toolbox of bioorthogonal reactions promoted by transition metal catalysts.

External link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2023/SC/D3SC01254A