Cycloadditions are among the most powerful reactions for constructing molecular complexity. The archetypal example is the [4 + 2] (Diels–Alder) cycloaddition, which efficiently furnishes cyclohexene d...

Visible-light-mediated energy transfer (EnT) photocatalysis has emerged as a highly appealing strategy for converting planar (hetero)arenes into complex, medicinally relevant, three-dimensional (3D) a...

Whereas [4 + 2] cycloadditions are among the most powerful tools in the chemist’s synthetic arsenal, controlling reactivity and selectivity of [6 + 4] cycloadditions has proven to be extremely challen...

Energy transfer (EnT) catalysed dearomative cycloadditions of bicyclic azaarenes are largely limited to [4+2] pathways, with higher-order cycloadditions being difficult to achieve. Now, the authors ci...

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 03 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s42004-025-01701-0Understanding cycloaddition mechanisms is beneficial for the creation of extended carbon nanostructures, yet traditional models often overlook symmetry-based mechanistic effects. Here, the authors employ topological classifiers to identify symmetry-forbidden pathways in polycyclic aromatic azomethine ylide cycloadditions, revealing that topologically-allowed endothermic reactions can guide nanographene engineering.

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...

The [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes and nitriles is an efficient and atom-economic method for the synthesis of pyridines. However, most of the examples so far reported entail the use of diynes, w...

A radical mechanism enables simple and robust access to nonstabilized, alkyl iron carbenes for novel (2 + 1) cycloadditions. This Fe-catalyzed strategy employs simple, aliphatic aldehydes as carbene p...

Visible-light-mediated energy transfer (EnT) photocatalysis has emerged as a highly appealing strategy for converting planar (hetero)arenes into complex, medicinally relevant, three-dimensional (3D) architectures. Current methodologies for intermolecular dearomative photocycloadditions, however, are restricted to bicyclic (hetero)aromatic systems, while the more abundant monocyclic (hetero)arenes remain vastly underexplored. Accessing the triplet state of the ubiquitous monocyclic (hetero)arenes poses a formidable challenge due to their high triplet energy barriers. Herein, we report several EnT-catalyzed intermolecular dearomative cycloadditions of monocyclic heteroarenes with alkenes and bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes. To overcome the intrinsic limitations in triplet-state reactivity and accelerate reaction discovery, we introduced a data-driven three-layer screening strategy that integrates predictive data science tools for mapping excited-state properties with luminescence quenching and reaction-based screening. This synergistic three-layer screening strategy uncovers structure-reactivity relationships between substituted monocyclic heteroarenes and biradical acceptors, facilitating the accelerated discovery of new reactivity. Utilizing this data-driven approach, we developed the EnT-catalyzed intermolecular dearomative cycloaddition of thiophenes, oxazoles, and thiazoles with alkenes/bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, providing access to unprecedented C(sp3)-rich 3D molecular scaffolds.

Researchers have engineered a novel M6L4 octahedral molecular cage by integrating photoactive cyclometalated platinum(II) units, creating a visible-light-responsive "nanoreactor" that drives highly efficient photochemical reactions through precise molecular confinement.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02233-3Conventional energy transfer photocatalysis often requires matching triplet-state energies between catalysts and substrates, which can trigger polymerization side reactions through rapid diradical generation. Now it has been shown that heteroleptic copper(I) complexes enable endergonic triplet photosensitization of either alkenes or bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, effectively suppressing alkene polymerization and broadening substrate scope.

para-Quinone methides (p-QMs) are versatile, transient electrophilic dearomatized intermediates in organic synthesis, enabling a range of transformations, such as cycloadditions, nucleophilic addition...

We present the first synthesis of bridged bicycles through the dearomatization of sterically and electronically unbiased aryl fragments. The visible-light promoted method occurs at room temperature a...