Comprehensive Mechanistic Analysis of Palladium- and Nickel-Catalyzed α,β-Dehydrogenation of Carbonyls via Organozinc Intermediates.

Introducing degrees of unsaturation into small molecules is a central transformation in organic synthesis. A strategically useful category of this reaction type is the conversion of alkanes into alkenes for substrates with an adjacent electron-withdrawing group. An efficient strategy for this conversion has been deprotonation to form a stabilized organozinc intermediate that can be subjected to α,β-dehydrogenation through palladium or nickel catalysis.

Structure-Property Optimization of a Series of Imidazopyridines for Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a collection of diseases caused by more than 20 parasite species that manifest as either visceral, cutaneous, or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Despite the significant mortality and morbidity associated with leishmaniasis, it remains a neglected tropical disease. Existing treatments have variable efficacy, significant toxicity, rising resistance, and limited oral bioavailability, which necessitates the development of novel and affordable therapeutics.