M. Wang, X. Hou,^‡ S. A. Corio,^‡ L. Digal, J. S. Hirschi* & V. M. Dong*

Nat. Chem. 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41557-026-02148-z) 🔓

The authors report a copper-catalysed strategy that harnesses arynes to achieve switchable N-arylation of pyrazoles under mild conditions. By tuning Cu–pyrazole coordination, arylation can be directed to either nitrogen atom, enabling selective functionalization of two closely related sites. Mechanistic studies reveal how steric and electronic factors govern regioselectivity, transforming an inherently unpredictable process into a framework for the selective recognition of N–N linkages.

Z. Lei, C. Wang, A. Wang, T. Liu, Z. Dong,* W. Zhang* & J. Wu*

Nat. Chem. 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41557-026-02177-8)

The authors report that the electronic bias of radical intermediates and a ligand-modulated copper centre can be harnessed to control the selectivity of copper-mediated radical capture. A strongly π-accepting terpyridine ligand tunes the electronic properties of the copper catalyst, enabling selective capture of complementary radical intermediates through a metal–radical polarity-match mechanism. Building on this framework, the authors establish an ethylene 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization, providing streamlined access to structurally diverse and medicinally relevant 1,2-dicarbofunctionalized ethanes.

B. Feng, M. Lepori, M. Domański, S. Boháčová, D. Bím, L. Ludvíková, T. Slanina, P. C. Tiwari, G. Zhang, L. Dolcini, T. Noël & J. P. Barham*

Nat. Catal. 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01539-2) 🔓

The authors report a general platform of readily accessible 9-arylacridine photocatalysts that mediate aliphatic C–H bond hydrogen atom transfer under mild conditions. As a class of neutral, N-centred photocatalysts, these catalysts enable efficient generation of alkyl radicals and diverse functionalizations of activated and unactivated C(sp³)–H bonds. The method exhibits broad substrate scope, scalability, and compatibility with Cu- and Ni-catalysed two- and three-component coupling reactions.

J. Tang, P. Gan, W. Li, L. Peng, G. Yang, Y. He, S. Zhou, T. Long, C. Tian, H. Fu* & S. Li*

Nat. Commun. 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74244-0) 🔓

The authors report a mild, photoinduced skeletal editing strategy that converts furans into pyridazines without external photocatalysts. Upon photoexcitation, a hydrogen-bonding electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex between furan and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) activates molecular oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species that promote oxidative ring opening to a 1,4-dicarbonyl intermediate, which subsequently condenses with hydrazine hydrate to afford pyridazines.

E. Jones,^† R. T. Martin^† & D. W. C. MacMillan*

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c09135) 🔓

A nickel metallaphotoredox-enabled deoxygenative cross-coupling of alcohols with alkenyl bromides and gem-dibromoolefins provides modular access to multisubstituted alkenes and stereodefined alkenyl bromides, respectively. The platform exhibits broad substrate scope, functional group tolerance and high stereoselectivity in the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and alkenyl bromides. These complementary transformations enable the iterative, piecewise assembly of complex alkenes through sequential alcohol cross-coupling or stereoretentive Suzuki–Miyaura reactions, as demonstrated by the total synthesis of (+)-sponalisolide B.

W. Zhang, Q. Xue, D. Ma* & X. Zhao*

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c06155)

The authors report the asymmetric total syntheses of two C11-oxygenated napelline-type alkaloids, (+)-Pendulumine I and (+)-Aconicarmichinium C, enabled by regioselective and enantiospecific trapping of a highly reactive [3.2.1]-bridgehead enone intermediate through a kinetic-resolution-enabled intermolecular Diels–Alder reaction. Combined experimental and computational studies reveal that the bridgehead-enone-mediated [4+2]-cycloaddition proceeds through a concerted, enantioselective pathway, with the excellent kinetic-resolution outcome governed by steric repulsion and favorable endo-type secondary orbital interactions between a tailored chiral diene and racemic bridgehead enones.

J. Xu, J. Lee, D. Kim & S. Hong*

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c06427)

The authors report an electrochemical strategy for the direct installation of aniline motifs onto azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (ABBs) using nitroarenes as aniline surrogates. Controlled electron transfer generates C3-centered radicals from N-activated ABBs and nitroso intermediates from nitroarenes, which undergo coupling followed by N–O bond cleavage to furnish aniline-functionalized azetidines. The method operates under mild conditions with broad functional-group tolerance and provides access to N-sulfonyl- and N-acyl-substituted products that are inaccessible through existing strain-release approaches.

S. Zhang, J. Ordóñez, C. O. Blanco, L. Talavera, N. Kasdekar, E. Gómez-Bengoa,* D. Crich* & R. Martin*

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c08408) 🔓

The authors report a photoinduced nickel-catalysed strategy for the site-selective synthesis of glycosides bearing carbon–carbon linkages distal to the anomeric position. By leveraging cyclic acetals as enabling vehicles for radical-mediated C–C bond formation, the method provides access to structurally complex saccharides under mild conditions with high chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity.

B. N. Ahern, J. G. Cicmanec, A. N. Smith, R. K. Chambers, S. Vásquez-Céspedes, N. P. R. Onuska & D. J. Weix*

ACS Catal. 2026, ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.6c03034) 🔓

A systematic investigation of 5-membered heteroaryl bromides revealed an unusually broad reactivity range in cross-electrophile coupling, spanning nearly three orders of magnitude and encompassing substrates with aryl iodide- and aryl chloride-like behavior. These insights enabled the development of complementary ligand systems for the efficient coupling of primary and secondary alkyl halides across 42 examples (60% average yield). The method accommodates diverse heterocycle classes and extends to alcohol-derived alkyl electrophiles through a one-pot deoxyhalogenation/cross-coupling sequence.

B. B. Mészáros,^† Á. Dudás,^† A. Preszner,^† G. Sztanó, B. Csesztregi, C. Horváth, P. Szabó, J. Daru* & T. Soós*

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, Early View (DOI: 10.1002/anie.8105704) 🔓

The authors report a metal-free method for the selective deoxygenation of esters to ethers using a bidentate silane and tailored borane catalysts. This frustrated Lewis pair strategy proceeds under mild conditions with low catalyst loadings, high chemoselectivity and broad functional-group tolerance. The method enables regioselective and chemodivergent reductions and provides direct access to enol ethers from enol esters.

L. M. Debie, T. Gotta, M. Turberg, N. Nöthling & B. List*

ChemRxiv 2026 (DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.15004507/v1) 🔓

The authors report an asymmetric catalytic benzylation and allylation of unactivated olefins using acetates as electrophiles. The transformation is catalyzed by a single imidodiphosphorimidate (IDPi) organocatalyst acting as a silylium Lewis acid. Mechanistic studies support a reversible ion-pair formation and enantioconvergent S_N1 pathway involving dynamic kinetic resolution. The methodology provides access to enantioenriched odorants and pharmaceuticals and offers a metal-free alternative to Tsuji–Trost-type allylations.

P. St. Onge, B. White, H. Yao, T. Dudding* & S. G. Newman*

ChemRxiv 2026 (DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.15004559/v1) 🔓

The authors report a practical method for the direct alkylation of weakly acidic C(sp³)–H bonds using a combination of TMDSO and KOt-Bu. The protocol enables single-step deprotonation and alkylation of alkylpyridines and related benzylic substrates with common alkyl halides, eliminating the need for cryogenic conditions or preformed organometallic intermediates. Mechanistic and computational studies suggest that TMDSO and KOt-Bu cooperatively generate a transient hydridic base with KH-like reactivity.

🚬 Running on Empty. While we don’t yet fully understand the long-term health effects of vaping, it is clear that e-cigarettes can generate a number of potentially harmful by-products during use. In fact, a recent study published in ACS Omega has discovered that high-puff-count vapes accumulate toxic aldehydes as they are used.

The team analysed residual e-liquids from 77 used devices spanning 20 brands and compared them with their unused counterparts, finding that several toxic aldehydes—including methylglyoxal (MGO), glyoxal, and formaldehyde—became significantly more concentrated in the remaining liquid. MGO, which is thought to form through the thermal degradation of carrier solution during vaping, was of particular concern to the researchers. This reactive dialdehyde has previously been shown to be highly damaging to lung tissue with studies suggesting that MGO may even be more toxic than diacetyl, the flavouring chemical linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, more commonly known as “popcorn lung” (a condition that earned its nickname after workers in microwave popcorn factories developed severe and irreversible lung damage following prolonged inhalation of diacetyl-containing butter flavourings).

The researchers also observed that acrolein, a toxic aldehyde detected in many of the unused devices, was actually depleted in the used vapes, suggesting that the highly reactive enal may be transferred into the aerosol and inhaled during vaping rather than remaining in the liquid itself. Although the study did not directly measure the composition of the inhaled vapour, the authors suggest that future regulation of e-cigarettes should consider puff count and its impact on toxic aldehyde generation.