Cam Zheng

The chemistry community should ban drawing chemical structures with generative AI, chemists warn AIs like Microsoft's Copilot, Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT still make serious errors rendering structural formulae

This member of the chemistry community wholeheartedly agrees.

Stereo-reversed E2 unlocks Z-selective C–H functionalization The stereoselective functionalization of C–H bonds represents a central challenge in modern organic synthesis. Despite decades of innovation in C–H activation chemistry, methods for Z-selective functi...

In @science.org this week @zachwickens.bsky.social and collaborators find a way to do Z-selective elimination using thianthrenium chemistry in a versatile route to Z olefins.

chemsky 🧪

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

YouTube video by ubcscience Dr. Corey Stephenson, chemist and CERC Chair

UBC chemist Dr. Corey Stephenson leads a research program focused on creating more efficient and sustainable processes for manufacturing life-saving medicines using light and electricity. @chem.ubc.ca

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZE9...

A modular synthesis of azetidines from reactive triplet imine intermediates using an intermolecular aza Paternò–Büchi reaction - Nature Catalysis Azetidines are four-membered saturated N-heterocycles that are of interest in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. Here the authors report how sulfamoyl fluoride substituents tune the reactivity of...

Ben's work on developing an EnT promoted aza Paternò-Büchi reaction is now online at Nature Catalysis. Key to success was the use of sulfamoyl fluoride substituted imines.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

We had a great lunch for Olaya's last day! Have a safe trip back to Spain

Elementary Steps in Olefin Metathesis: Nickelacyclobutanes via Cycloaddition to Nickel Carbenes Olefin metathesis and cyclopropanation, major reactions in the synthetic toolbox, are predominantly catalyzed by platinum-group metals. First-row transition metal alternatives are desirable from the p...

Nickel is a highly abundant metal available in major reserves worldwide. It is known for its diverse reactivity, but could it be a candidate for use in olefin metathesis? Find out in our latest article out now in JACS!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

We had a great time at CSC this year, thank you to the organizers for hosting such a wonderful conference! #CSC2025

Looking forward to #csc2026!

Leitch lab group photo

And that's a wrap for #CSC2025!
Leitch lab folks (current and alumni) gave amazing talks, posters, workshops, and tore it up at the social events! Very proud of Kushal, Jae,
@gilianthomas.bsky.social, and Max & @camzheng.bsky.social (who couldn't make the photo)

Thanks Laurel!

It was a great honour to be able to present my last PhD project from @laurelschafer.bsky.social’s group for LisaFest @ #csc2025. Thanks to @wpiers.bsky.social for organizing! #organometallics #RosenbergGroup

Thank you to all those who came to visit our posters at CSC. Stay tuned for more exciting chemistry! #csc2025

Data-Driven Workflow for the Development and Discovery of <italic toggle&#x3D;"yes">N</italic>-Oxyl Hydrogen Atom Transfer Catalysts N-oxyl species are promising hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysts to advance C–H bond activation reactions. However, because of the complex structure–activity relationship within the N-oxyl structure, catalyst optimization is a key challenge, particularly for simultaneous improvement across multiple parameters. This paper describes a data-driven approach to optimize N-oxyl hydrogen atom transfer catalysts. A focused library of 50 N-hydroxy compounds was synthesized and characterized by three parameters─oxidation peak potential, HAT reactivity, and stability─to generate a database. Statistical modeling of these activities described by their intrinsic physical organic parameters was used to build predictive models for catalyst discovery and to understand their structure–activity relationships. Virtual screening of 102 synthesizable candidates allowed for rapid identification of several ideal catalyst candidates. These statistical models clearly suggest that N-oxyl substructures bearing an adjacent heteroatom are more optimal HAT catalysts compared to the historical focus, phthalimide-N-oxyl, by striking the best balance among all three target experimental properties.

Check out a new excellent #ACSCentralScience article "Data-Driven Workflow for the #Development & #Discovery of N-Oxyl #HydrogenAtomTransfer Catalysts" by Stephen Maldonado, Matthew S. Sigman, Corey R. J. Stephenson and co-workers.
#ChemSky #AcademicSky @pubs.acs.org
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Unlocking new drug space! 💊 Read our latest review on C-H #functionalization of saturated N-#heterocycles by Cam Zheng ( @camzheng.bsky.social ) and Laurel Schafer ( @laurelschafer.bsky.social ) 🧪 Discover how this approach enables high selectivity and late-stage modifications!

👉 buff.ly/Rnbdtbm

Data-Driven Workflow for the Development and Discovery of <italic toggle&#x3D;"yes">N</italic>-Oxyl Hydrogen Atom Transfer Catalysts N-oxyl species are promising hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysts to advance C–H bond activation reactions. However, because of the complex structure–activity relationship within the N-oxyl structure, catalyst optimization is a key challenge, particularly for simultaneous improvement across multiple parameters. This paper describes a data-driven approach to optimize N-oxyl hydrogen atom transfer catalysts. A focused library of 50 N-hydroxy compounds was synthesized and characterized by three parameters─oxidation peak potential, HAT reactivity, and stability─to generate a database. Statistical modeling of these activities described by their intrinsic physical organic parameters was used to build predictive models for catalyst discovery and to understand their structure–activity relationships. Virtual screening of 102 synthesizable candidates allowed for rapid identification of several ideal catalyst candidates. These statistical models clearly suggest that N-oxyl substructures bearing an adjacent heteroatom are more optimal HAT catalysts compared to the historical focus, phthalimide-N-oxyl, by striking the best balance among all three target experimental properties.

Check out our most recent work in collaboration with Maldonado group and Sigman group out now in ACS Central Science!

Congrats to former member Cheng along with Thérèse, and Yulia!

Read more about it here:
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

IDG Bingo card free slot: Mentions Haber-Bosch

You may change careers, but the academic nightmares stay forever

You become washed the moment you pass your candidacy exam

Congratulations to @bnadeau.bsky.social for an excellent PhD thesis defense and discussion. Thanks to Sam Johnson as external examiner, Suzana Straus, @coreystephenson.bsky.social @jasonhein.bsky.social for the insightful questioning. Great to shared moment @jenlove.bsky.social #ProudSupervisors

Huge congratulations to @bnadeau.bsky.social on an excellent PhD thesis defence today. @laurelschafer.bsky.social

Photos to come!

Rosie’s an amazing Scientist and great mentor! This a great opportunity to learn some highly innovative chemistry! #ChemSky #organometallics

Very proud to be awarded a Royal Society Marsden Fast Start Grant for my project “Unleashing the potential of titanium as a replacement for precious metal catalysts by affixing it to solid supports”. @royalsocietynz.bsky.social @marsdenfund.bsky.social @aucklanduni.bsky.social #chemsky

Thank you so much for all of the advice, mentorship, and confidence that you’ve provided me over the last 5 years, Laurel! #ChemSky

Great job to Theo and the Ball lab!

Thanks Jen!! I'll be staying at UBC and working with @coreystephenson.bsky.social as a postdoc!

Happy birthday @laurelschafer.bsky.social & @jenlove.bsky.social!

Hello #chemsky 🧪, I am a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Auckland. My group studies earth abundant metal catalysis using surface organometallic chemistry. Mix of organic/inorganic/materials chemistry. Contact me for collaborations. Watch this space for PhD opportunities.

Thanks a lot Justin!