The synthesis of natural products and complex organic molecules has long been central to medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and materials science. Natural products have been the source of numerous bioactive compounds that form the basis of many important pharmaceuticals and therapeutic agents. However, despite significant advances in synthetic methodologies, the traditional strategies for synthesizing these complex molecules often face challenges related to selectivity, efficiency, scalability, and synthetic accessibility. These challenges are especially pronounced when attempting to replicate the structural complexity and molecular diversity inherent in natural products.
In recent years, both metal-catalyzed and organo-catalyzed processes have emerged as powerful and transformative tools in synthetic chemistry. Metal catalysts, especially transition metals and their complexes, enable highly selective reactions, novel reactivity patterns, and compatibility with a broad range of functional groups. Organo-catalysis, on the other hand, leverages small organic molecules to activate substrates and catalyze reactions under milder conditions. The synergy between these two types of catalysis offers exciting new pathways to the synthesis of complex natural products and organic molecules that were previously difficult to access.
While these catalytic approaches have already demonstrated tremendous potential, several challenges remain. Optimizing catalyst design, enhancing reaction efficiency, and scaling up these methods for industrial production are ongoing research areas. Furthermore, sustainability concerns, such as the recyclability of catalysts, waste minimization, and the environmental impact of synthetic processes, must be addressed to ensure that these methods can be used on a global scale.
Focus
This thematic special issue, “Innovative Metal and Organo-Catalyzed Approaches in Natural Product and Organic Synthesis: Transforming Chemistry for the Future,” seeks to explore cutting-edge advancements in metal and organo-catalysis that are reshaping the field of natural product and organic synthesis. The Special issue goal is to highlight how these catalytic systems—both individually and in combination—are overcoming traditional synthetic barriers, leading to more efficient, sustainable, and versatile synthetic routes.
We aim to uncover new catalytic strategies that not only enhance selectivity and reaction efficiency but also address the pressing need for sustainability in chemical synthesis. By focusing on both metal and organo-catalyzed methodologies, this issue aims to highlight innovative solutions that are applicable to both well-known natural products and unexplored bioactive compounds. Ultimately, the research presented here will help define the future of natural product synthesis, organic synthesis, and the broader field of catalytic chemistry.
Scope
This Research Topic will focus on the latest advancements in metal and organo-catalyzed methods for the synthesis of natural products and complex organic molecules. Submissions should explore a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:
• Development of Novel Metal and Organo-Catalysts: Research on the design and application of novel catalysts, including transition metal complexes and small organic molecules, that facilitate the selective and efficient synthesis of complex natural products and organic compounds.
• Mechanistic Insights into Metal and Organo-Catalyzed Transformations: Studies that provide in-depth mechanistic understanding of metal and organo-catalyzed reactions, including the identification of key intermediates, reaction pathways, and catalytic cycles. These insights will aid in optimizing reaction conditions and improving catalyst design.
• Sustainable and Green Chemistry Approaches: Research focused on developing green and sustainable catalytic processes that minimize waste, reduce the use of toxic reagents and solvents, and improve catalyst recyclability. Special emphasis will be placed on both metal and organo-catalyzed reactions that adhere to green chemistry principles.
• Metal and Organo-Catalysis for Complex Biosynthetic Pathways: Exploration of catalytic methods that replicate or enable biosynthetic pathways for complex natural products. These studies will offer new insights into molecular architecture construction using metal and organo-catalysis, providing a deeper understanding of how nature assembles complex molecules.
• Advances in Catalysis for Bioactive and Pharmaceutical Molecules: This section will focus on the development of metal and organo-catalyzed processes that enable the efficient synthesis of bioactive molecules with pharmaceutical potential. Special attention will be given to catalytic strategies that open new avenues for drug discovery and the synthesis of novel therapeutics.
This Research Topic will present the latest breakthroughs in metal and organo-catalysis, highlighting how these methodologies are transforming natural product and organic synthesis. By addressing both fundamental and applied aspects of catalysis, the articles in this issue will contribute to the development of more efficient, sustainable, and scalable synthetic approaches that can benefit both academic research and industrial practices.
Editors

Dr. Lakshminarayana Satham
(Lead Guest Editor)
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
Online profile link: Google Scholar

Dr. Ananda Rao Podilapu
(Co-Guest Editor)
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
Online profile link: Google Scholar

Dr. Kuppuswamy Arumugam
(Co-Guest Editor)
Department of Chemistry, Wright State University, Ohio 45431, USA
Online profile link: Arumugam Lab

Dr. Jin-Hong Li
(Co-Guest Editor)
University of Chicago,
Chicago, Illinois 60637. USA.
Online profile link: Google Scholar
Submission
Authors need to submit their article manuscript at the journal site for processing. The author guidelines and article template are provided on the journal site.
Authors should mention the details of this special issue in cover letter (to editor) for consideration and processing in this issue.
Date Schedule
Submission open till: Sept, 30. 2025
Issue Compilation: Nov, 2025
Participating Journal
Journal of Molecular Chemistry https://pubs.thesciencein.org/journal/index.php/jmc