Development and Molecular Understanding of a Pd-Catalyzed Cyanation of Aryl Boronic Acids Enabled by High-Throughput Experimentation and Data Analysis

A synthetic method for the palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl boronic acids using bench stable and non-toxic N-cyanosuccinimide has been developed. High-throughput experimentation facilitated the screen of 90 different ligands and the resultant statistical data analysis identified that ligand σ-donation, π-acidity and sterics are key drivers that govern yield. Categorization into three ligand groups – monophosphines, bisphosphines and miscellaneous – was performed before the analysis. For the monophosphines, the yield of the reaction increases for strong σ-donating, weak π-accepting ligands, with flexible pendant substituents. For the bisphosphines, the yield predominantly correlates with ligand lability. The applicability of the designed reaction to a wider substrate scope was investigated, showing good functional group tolerance in particular with boronic acids bearing electron-withdrawing substituents. This work outlines the development of a novel reaction, coupled with a fast and efficient workflow to gain understanding of the optimal ligand properties for the design of improved palladium cross-coupling catalysts.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Regioselective Borocarbonylative Coupling of Unactivated Alkenes with Alkyl Halides: Synthesis of β‐Boryl Ketones

The borocarbonylative coupling of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides remains a challenge. In this communication, a Cu‐catalyzed borocarbonylative coupling of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides for the synthesis of β‐boryl ketones has been developed. A broad range of β‐boryl ketone derivatives was prepared in moderate to excellent yields with complete regioselectivity.     

Abstract Commensurators of Groups Acting on Rooted Trees

We show that the abstract commensurator of a nearly level transitive weakly branch group H coincides with the relative commensurator of H in the homeomorphism group of the boundary of the tree on which H acts. It is also shown that the commensurator of an infinite group which is commensurable with its own nth direct power contains a Higman–Thompson group as a subgroup. Applying these results to the Grigorchuk 2-group G we show that the commensurator of G is a finitely presented infinite simple group.     

Formation of K*He exciplexes on the surface of helium nanodroplets studied in real time

Superfluid helium nanodroplets are doped with potassium atoms to form complexes with the alkali atom residing on the surface of the droplets. Dispersed laser-induced fluorescence spectra of such systems already revealed the formation of M(*)He ( M = Na,K) exciplexes upon electronic excitation [Reho et al., Faraday Discuss. 108, 161 (1997)]. By means of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, this formation process now is followed in real time. We find K(*)He(n = 1) to be formed within 180 fs. Furthermore, the existence of exciplexes with n>1 is quantified suggesting that the first ring around the potassium atom contains four helium atoms.     

Development of highly potent inhibitors of the ras-targeting human acyl protein thioesterases based on substrate similarity design

A matter of common sense: A common recognition motif consisting of a negatively charged group five to six bonds away (red) from the (thio)ester functionality (green) and a positively charged tail group ten to twelve bonds away (blue) was identified in two native acyl protein thioesterase?1 (APT1) substrates. This similarity led to the design of potent inhibitors of the Ras-depalmitoylating enzyme APT1.     

Re-weighted random series path integral simulations of molecular clusters: Applications to lithium solvated by a mixed Stockmayer cluster

Nuclear quantum effects in finite temperature simulations of molecular clusters are determined by taking advantage of a recently developed method based on the Feynman Path Integral. The structural and thermodynamic properties, including the nuclear quantum effects are determined for three Stockmayer clusters. The ionic system contain a lithium ion solvated by six strong dipoles and 12 weaker ones. The presence of the ion in the mixed Stockmayer cluster drastically enhances the fluxional nature of the less polar components which occupy the second solvation layer, whereas the neutral counterpart has the effect of reducing it. The nuclear quantum effects are significant at room temperature and above for the solvated ionic system. These are attributable to two factors: (a) the lightness of the lithium ion and (b) the stiffness of the ion-dipole interactions. At 300 K, the difference between the fully converged quantum and the classical heat capacities is about 1.3 K_B for the ionic cluster. This difference is about 10 SDs obtained from 95% confidence estimates of the statistical fluctuations. Cubic convergence is confirmed for temperatures as low as 50 K by regression analysis. The nuclear quantum effects do not change the peak melting temperature of the cluster.     

Intramolecular Diamination of Alkenes with Palladium(II)/Copper(II) Bromide and IPy2BF4: The Role of Halogenated Intermediates

The oxidative intramolecular diamination of alkenes with tethered ureas and related groups as the nitrogen source has been investigated both with the iodonium reagent IPy₂BF₄ (Py=pyridine) and under palladium catalysis in the presence of copper(II) bromide as a reoxidant. For terminal alkenes, the two procedures enable selective and high‐yielding transformations. Studies with deuterated material led to the conclusion that the reactions proceed through different stereochemical pathways. An advanced protocol for palladium‐catalyzed diamination through six‐membered‐ring annulation was also developed, and the first examples of the intramolecular diamination of internal alkenes are described. In this case, the same stereochemical outcome was observed for the iodonium‐promoted and palladium‐catalyzed transformations. On this basis, it was possible to determine the importance of aminohalogenated intermediates in both diamination reactions. Overall, the disclosed procedures broaden significantly the synthetic applicability of the oxidative intramolecular diamination of alkenes.     

Direct synthesis of bicyclic guanidines through unprecedented palladium(ii) catalysed diamination with copper chloride as oxidant

Palladium catalysed intramolecular guanidine transfer to alkenes can be accomplished with copper chloride as the oxidant to give bicyclic guanidines with complete selectivity and in high yields.