Finn Moeller

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-02041-1

Thiophene S,S-dioxides are excellent substrates for cycloaddition reactions, but underused in target-oriented synthesis. Here the authors show how these heterocycles enable the asymmetric synthesis of tricyclic indolines, as well as the collective synthesis of the iconic Strychnos alkaloids. Computational studies rationalize the source of asymmetry and reveal a spontaneous SO2 extrusion pathway.

Science, Volume 391, Issue 6782, Page 267-274, January 2026.

We report a robust, metal-free and scalable synthesis of stable BF₂ boracycles via directed ortho CH borylation, delivering isolable, shelf-stable reagents without chromatographic purification. These BF₂ boracycles exhibit unique and tunable reactivity, enabling highly selective ipso-functionalization across a broad range of transformations. Their exceptional stability, wide substrate scope, and superior reactivity establish BF₂ boracycles as powerful alternatives to conventional organoboron reagents for pharmaceutical and radiochemical applications.

Abstract

The development of new boron reagents continues to play a crucial role in advancing modern organic synthesis, particularly in C–H functionalization and cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we report a metal-free, robust, and scalable multigram protocol for the synthesis of stable BF₂ boracycles that require no column chromatography, providing a practical and efficient route to access this valuable boron species. The BF₂ boracycles exhibit enhanced stability and reactivity, making them highly versatile intermediates for late-stage diversification. They undergo ipso-substitution to afford a wide array of derivatives, including halogenated (e.g., radioiodinated), hydroxylated, and azidated products. Furthermore, they display excellent reactivity in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions, enabling both C(sp²)─C(sp²) and C(sp²)─C(sp³) bond formation. These results underscore the utility of BF₂ boracycles as powerful tools for selective functionalization in pharmaceutical synthesis and beyond. Our work represents a significant advancement in organoboron chemistry, offering both a streamlined synthetic approach and broad applicability for complex molecule construction.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10104-7

Retraction Note: Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

Nature Communications, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-67363-7

Low-valent sulfur-containing compounds are abundant among natural and synthetic products but remain underutilized as starting materials in desulfurative transformations. Here, the authors present thiols, disulfides, thioethers, and thioacetals as precursors in a direct desulfurative electrochemical process for the formation of alkylboronic esters.

Nature, Published online: 09 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00057-2

Shannon Bros and Kihana Wilson outline how academia can better support LGBTQ+ researchers, launching a podcast series about workplace topics that are often off limits.

Nature, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00084-z

Universities, governments, academics, health-care providers and students must work together to ensure timely access to suitable mental-health support.

Nature, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00087-w

Mexican food scientist Raquel Gómez-Pliego works to improve the nutritional value of foods through microbial fermentation.

Nature, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00119-5

Bonds between same-sex individuals help apes and monkeys to manage conflict and strengthen alliances, especially in dry habitats and predator-rich landscapes.

A complexity-generating intramolecular alkene diamination constitutes the pivotal step in the enantioselective synthesis of the title natural products featuring a strained, cage-like pentacyclic architecture.

Abstract

Among more than four thousand monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) isolated to date, only a few feature a 2,2,3-trisubstituted indoline moiety. (+)-Melonine and (+)-N₄ -oxy melonine possess a highly rearranged carbon framework, presumably arising from cyclization of a rearranged iminium ion of quebrachamine precursor. We report herein the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-melonine and (+)-N₄ -oxy melonine featuring: a) a highly enantioselective CBS reduction followed by a stereospecific Johnson-Claisen rearrangement for the synthesis of enantioenriched β-substituted γ,δ-unsaturated ester; b) Bower's bis-cyclizative diamination of alkene, enabling the conversion of a functionalized cycloheptene to the tetracyclic core of the natural products; and c) an AlMe₃-mediated lactamization that concurrently achieves desymmetrization at the C20 prochiral center.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-02036-y

Fischer carbenes are typically synthesized by addition of pyrophoric reagents to toxic metal carbonyls. Now access to α-siloxycarbenes from thioesters has been reported via reductive silylation of cobalt acyls, providing a platform to harness carbene reactivity from carboxylates via metal acyls and allowing several new reactions occur, including heterodimerization to acyloin-type products.

Nature, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-10002-4

Electrochemical defluorinative Matteson-type homologation

Science, Volume 391, Issue 6781, Page 171-178, January 2026.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-02037-x

Despite their structural similarity, homologous series often require individual synthetic routes and distinct starting materials. Now it has been shown that a designer methylene dication reagent transforms alkenes and nucleophiles, typically primed for 1,2-difunctionalization, into 1,3-difunctionalized products such as azetidines, 1,3-diazides and 1,3-dihalides through the incorporation of a single-carbon unit during molecular assembly.

We report a novel substrate-induced transient co-assembly between a short Lys-rich peptide and Fmoc-Gly-OH. In the activated state, the assembly exhibits promiscuous catalytic activity through the rate enhancements of hydrolysis and C═N condensation reactions. Over time, the substrate Fmoc-Gly-OH is cleaved into smaller fragments, leading to the collapse of the hydrogel and a decrease in catalytic activity.

Abstract

In nature, substrate-induced assembly is a fundamental requirement for a wide range of enzyme-driven chemical transformations. Systems chemists have introduced synthetic substrate analogues that have proven effective in enhancing catalytic activities of assembling peptide folds, and mimic primitive enzymes. However, how catalytic promiscuity, the ability of one catalyst to catalyse multiple orthogonal reactions, might have shaped the diversification of prebiotic chemistry, remains largely unaddressed. Herein, we report a novel transient, substrate-induced co-assembly between a lysine-rich pre-assembling peptide and Fmoc-glycine. The nanostructure formed under nonequilibrium conditions provides the suitable microenvironment to promote the potential of catalytically active amino acids, performing orthogonal hydrolysis and C═N condensation reactions. Simultaneously, carbamate bond cleavage of the labile Fmoc group destabilises the co-assembly in the activated state, causing the structure to collapse gradually. By encoding catalytic promiscuity into assembling building blocks under kinetic control, we shed light on the emergence of primitive catalysis with broad substrate scope at the origin of life.

Efficient intermolecular cyclization of unprotected oximes with alkenes was achieved by dual photo- and copper catalysis. This protocol avoids oxygen-activating reagents and suppresses side reactions of free oximes, enabling streamlined synthesis of 1-pyrroline scaffolds with water as the by-product. Key to the method is energy-transfer photosensitization of a copper-oxime complex, inducing net oxidative addition of the N─OH bond to copper.

Abstract

While methodologies for N─O bond scission in O-functionalized oximes are well established, the analogous activation of free oximes remains challenging, largely due to the formidable hurdles associated with selective N─O bond cleavage and competing side reactions involving the acidic O─H moiety. Herein, we report a dual photo- and copper-catalyzed strategy that directly promotes homolytic cleavage of the N─O bond in free oximes through photosensitization of oxime-ligated copper complexes, thereby overcoming prior limitations. Mechanistic studies, including full characterization of key copper intermediates, support an energy transfer (EnT) pathway. This distinctive activation mode enables a previously elusive intermolecular cyclization between unprotected oximes and alkenes, delivering valuable 1-pyrrolines with high efficiency.