A decade advancement of transition metal-catalyzed borylation of aryl halides and sulfonates3

Using Langevin simulations, we numerically investigate the dynamics of driven two-dimensional colloids subject to randomly distributed pointlike pinning centers. Increasing the strength of pinning centers, we find a crossover from elastic to plastic depinnings, where a substantial increase in the depinning force is observed. The influence of temperature is examined, and we find a dynamic melting transition from the moving smectic to the moving liquid at high driving forces. A peak is found in the dynamic critical driving force across the transition, accompanied by a crossing of velocity-force dependence curves.

The rational design of a phosphine ligand for the reductive elimination-demanding Pd-catalyzed mono-α-arylation of acetone is demonstrated and reported. The catalyst is tolerant of previously proven challenging electron-deficient aryl chlorides and provides excellent product yields with down to 0.1 mol % Pd. Preliminary investigations suggest that the rate-limiting step for the proposed system is the oxidative addition of aryl chlorides, in which it contradicts previous findings regarding the α-arylation of acetone with aryl halides.

Boron makes it selective: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified by boron oxide catalyze the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene with remarkable selectivity. Nanocarbon can be an attractive alternative to conventional metal oxides, as it enables a feasible investigation of the reaction mechanism and provides a sustainable technology for alkane conversion.

Up to speed: The first general and mild protocol for the Sonogashira coupling of aryl mesylates is presented (see scheme). The coupling intermediate also provides facile access to 2‐substituted isoquinolines.