Asymmetric nucleophilic fluorination under hydrogen bonding phase-transfer catalysis.

Common anionic nucleophiles such as those derived from inorganic salts have not been used for enantioselective catalysis because of their insolubility. Here, we report that merging hydrogen bonding and phase-transfer catalysis provides an effective mode of activation for nucleophiles that are insoluble in organic solvents. This catalytic manifold relies on hydrogen bonding complexation to render nucleophiles soluble and reactive, while simultaneously inducing asymmetry in the ensuing transformation.

The dual role of thiourea in the thiotrifluoromethylation of alkenes.

Alkenes substituted with a thiourea undergo C-CF followed by intramolecular C-S bond formation with the Togni reagent and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at room temperature; thiols and thioamides are not suitable S-sources for this reaction. This anti-addition process involves a CF radical, and affords CF-substituted thiazolines and thiazines for medicinal applications. A metal or photoredox catalyst is not required as the thiourea acts as a reductant, as well as serving as an S-source capable of adding to a C-centered radical.

ChEMBLSpace--a graphical explorer of the chemogenomic space covered by the ChEMBL database.

The ChEMBLSpace graphical explorer enables the identification of compounds from the ChEMBL database, which exhibit a desirable polypharmacology profile. This profile can be predefined or created iteratively, and the tool can be extended to other data sources.