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Chemistry
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Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances
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Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances

A special issue of Chemistry (ISSN 2624-8549). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Organics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 3082

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Damiano Tanini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia, 13-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: selenium; tellurium; catalysis; green chemistry; redox; functional group interconversions; synthetic methodologies; enzyme modulators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chalcogens (S, Se, Te) are relevant elements with multiple oxidation states and can be stereogenic centers, which contribute to the astounding diversity and complexity of molecule construction. Chalcogen atom-containing organic compounds are abundant in natural products, materials, agrochemicals and blockbuster pharmaceuticals. Chalcogens also show potential for creating novel polymers with improved mechanical, optical and electrochemical properties. Chalcogen-containing compounds are also important synthetic intermediates and can serve as versatile building blocks, catalysts and auxiliaries for organic transformations, including redox functional group interconversions. In this context, achieving high chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity with cheaper, less toxic catalysts, milder reaction conditions, more readily available starting materials and a broader substrate scope remains a key objective in designing synthetic strategies for chalcogen-containing compounds. Reducing expensive and hazardous redox reagents and enabling more sustainable and greener routes, photochemistry and electrochemistry offer opportunities to develop new methodologies to synthesize chalcogen organic compounds. Scholars in theoretical chemistry, crystallography and supramolecular chemistry are making significant efforts to study chalcogen bonding, a subclass of noncovalent interactions. Organochalcogen biomolecules attract significant attention because of the presence of cysteines and selenocysteines in human protein families. Incorporating chalcogen atoms into biomolecules, such as nucleosides, is a promising strategy for developing therapeutics.

This Special Issue highlights the significance of chalcogen-containing compounds across various fields, including but not limited to the above-mentioned topics. Both original research articles and comprehensive review papers are welcome.

Dr. Damiano Tanini
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Chemistry is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sulfur
  • selenium
  • tellurium
  • synthetic methodologies
  • redox chemistry
  • medicinal chemistry
  • biological activities
  • catalysis
  • sustainable chemistry

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2543 KiB  
Article
Desulfurative Acetoxylation of Alkyl Benzyl Phenyl Sulfides
by Daniele Canestrari, Umamaheswara Rao Boddu, Gangaram Pallikonda and Mauro F. A. Adamo
Chemistry 2025, 7(4), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7040131 - 18 Aug 2025
Viewed by 154
Abstract
The reaction of thiophenylsulfides with diacetoxyiodobenzene, iodine and light produced corresponding acetoxylated products, allowing the formation of new C-O bonds from starting materials other than carbonyls in high yields. Hence, under these conditions, thiophenylsulfide underwent displacement/substitution by an acetate. 1H-NMR studies of [...] Read more.
The reaction of thiophenylsulfides with diacetoxyiodobenzene, iodine and light produced corresponding acetoxylated products, allowing the formation of new C-O bonds from starting materials other than carbonyls in high yields. Hence, under these conditions, thiophenylsulfide underwent displacement/substitution by an acetate. 1H-NMR studies of the reaction carried out with exclusion of each single reactant pointed at two operative pathways and to the involvement of an intermediate that was assigned as an acetoxy sulfonium (IV) species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances)
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Scheme 1

16 pages, 4533 KiB  
Article
Phenylthiadiazole-Based Schiff Base Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Detection of Al3+ and Zn2+ Ions
by Jorge Heredia-Moya, Ariana Fiallos-Ayala and Amanda Cevallos-Vallejo
Chemistry 2025, 7(4), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7040128 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 503
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) and zinc (Zn) are two of the most widely used metals in industry, and their excessive accumulation in the body has been linked to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. This highlights the need for effective ways to detect and [...] Read more.
Aluminum (Al) and zinc (Zn) are two of the most widely used metals in industry, and their excessive accumulation in the body has been linked to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. This highlights the need for effective ways to detect and measure them. In this study, we synthesized the fluorescent chemosensor 1, which contains a Schiff base and a 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring in its structure, and evaluated its fluorescent response in the presence of various metal ions. The chemosensor enabled the selective quantification of Al3+ and Zn2+ ions through excitations at different wavelengths, yielding differentiated fluorescent emissions. For Al3+, excitation at 370 nm generated a strong emission at 480 nm, whereas for Zn2+, excitation at 320 nm led to a new small broad emission at 560 nm. We established detection limits of 2.22 × 10−6 M for Al3+ and 1.62 × 10−5 M for Zn2+; their binding stoichiometry was found to be 1:1 for Al3+ and 2:1 for Zn2+, based on Job’s plot analysis. These results show that chemosensor 1 is a promising tool for detecting Al3+ and Zn2+. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances)
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12 pages, 2672 KiB  
Article
Visible-Light-Mediated Dehydrogenative Cross-Coupling of Azaarenes and Ethers
by Junsong Song, Wanyu Chen, Xin Chen, Yi Zhou, Bin Han, Yao Wang, Honghua Jia, Kai Guo, Jiangkai Qiu, Jian Wang and Canliang Ma
Chemistry 2025, 7(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7040103 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 679
Abstract
Heteroaromatic motifs are prevalent in natural products and numerous high-value drug molecules. Consequently, the construction of alkylated heterocyclic frameworks holds significant importance. The Minisci reaction of heteroarenes has evolved into a flexible technique for the synthesis of substituted heterocyclic derivatives. However, the use [...] Read more.
Heteroaromatic motifs are prevalent in natural products and numerous high-value drug molecules. Consequently, the construction of alkylated heterocyclic frameworks holds significant importance. The Minisci reaction of heteroarenes has evolved into a flexible technique for the synthesis of substituted heterocyclic derivatives. However, the use of strong oxidants and external acid is inevitable during the reaction process. Herein, we present a versatile and accessible method for achieving cross dehydrogenation coupling between quinoline derivatives and inactive ether. This strategy utilizes inexpensive NaI and PPh3 to support the reaction, obviating the need for metal complexes or sacrificial oxidants, and enables the straightforward synthesis of a diverse library of alkyl-substituted N-heteroarenes. Additionally, radical trapping experiments and fluorescence quenching experiments have been conducted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the reaction mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances)
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Scheme 1

13 pages, 1101 KiB  
Article
Metal-Free C(sp3)–S Bond Cleavage of Thioethers to Selectively Access Aryl Aldehydes and Dithioacetals
by Dan Yuan, Yong Huang, Long Tang and Ke Yang
Chemistry 2025, 7(3), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7030089 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Metal-free C(sp3)–S bond cleavage of thioethers was achieved using NCS as a critical additive. A wide range of arylmethyl thioethers were successfully transformed into aryl aldehydes with satisfactory yields in chloroform. Meanwhile, employing fluorobenzene as the solvent enables the selective formation [...] Read more.
Metal-free C(sp3)–S bond cleavage of thioethers was achieved using NCS as a critical additive. A wide range of arylmethyl thioethers were successfully transformed into aryl aldehydes with satisfactory yields in chloroform. Meanwhile, employing fluorobenzene as the solvent enables the selective formation of dithioacetals from arylmethyl thioethers, achieving moderate to good yields. Notably, dithioacetals were first prepared through a metal-free C(sp3)–S bond cleavage and subsequent thioacetalization process. Furthermore, these simple and efficient approaches also provide complementary strategies for accessing important aryl aldehydes and dithioacetals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances)
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Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 4767 KiB  
Review
Self-Reporting H2S Donors: Integrating H2S Release with Real-Time Fluorescence Detection
by Changlei Zhu and John C. Lukesh
Chemistry 2025, 7(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7040116 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 477
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), once regarded solely as a highly toxic gas, is now recognized as a crucial signaling molecule in plants, bacteria, and mammals. In humans, H2S signaling plays a role in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including vasodilation, [...] Read more.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), once regarded solely as a highly toxic gas, is now recognized as a crucial signaling molecule in plants, bacteria, and mammals. In humans, H2S signaling plays a role in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including vasodilation, neuromodulation, and cytoprotection. To exploit its biological functions and therapeutic potential, a wide range of H2S-releasing compounds, known as H2S donors, have been developed. These donors are designed to release H2S under physiological conditions in a controlled manner. Among them, self-reporting H2S donors are seen as a particularly innovative class, combining therapeutic delivery with real-time fluorescence-based detection. This dual functionality enables spatiotemporal monitoring of H2S release in biological environments, eliminating the need for additional sensors or probes that could disrupt cellular homeostasis. This review summarizes recent advancements in self-reporting H2S donor systems, organizing them based on their activation triggers, such as specific bioanalytes, enzymes, or external stimuli like light. The discussion covers their design strategies, performance in biological applications, and therapeutic potential. Key challenges are also highlighted, including the need for precise control of H2S release kinetics, accurate signal quantification, and improved biocompatibility. With continued refinement, self-reporting H2S donors offer great promise for creating multifunctional platforms that seamlessly integrate diagnostic imaging with therapeutic H2S delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Chalcogen Chemistry: Recent Advances)
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