The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global crisis. Replication of SARS-CoV-2 requires the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme, a target of the antiviral drug remdesivir. Here we report the cryo–electron microscopy structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, both in the apo form at 2.8-angstrom resolution and in complex with a 50-base template-primer RNA and remdesivir at 2.5-angstrom resolution. The complex structure reveals that the partial double-stranded RNA template is inserted into the central channel of the RdRp, where remdesivir is covalently incorporated into the primer strand at the first replicated base pair, and terminates chain elongation. Our structures provide insights into the mechanism of viral RNA replication and a rational template for drug design to combat the viral infection.

For proof-of-concept of halogen bonding in drug design, a series of halogenated compounds were designed based on a lead structure as new inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5. Bioassay results revealed a good correlation between the measured bioactivity and the calculated halogen bond energy. Our X-ray crystal structures verified the existence of the predicted halogen bonds, demonstrating that the halogen bond is an applicable tool in drug design and should be routinely considered in lead optimization.

Neutral palladium complexes bearing pyrrole-imine ligands (I-III) have been synthesized, and their use as catalysts for olefin and vinyl monomer (co)polymerizations was investigated. Methyl acrylate (MA) has been homopolymerized in excellent yields (>95%) using these complexes. Copolymerizations of MA with norbornene or 1-hexene in the presence of these catalysts produce acrylate-enriched copolymers. Hypothesizing that metal enolates are potential intermediates in some of these polymerizations, palladium enolate complexes (IV-VII) containing ligand 1 were tested for their catalytic activity. Surprisingly, these complexes proved inactive toward acrylate and/or olefin polymerizations. Further mechanistic studies have shown that the homo-and copolymers obtained using these complexes arise from a radical mechanism rather than the anticipated metal-mediated process.