#JOCasap
One thing you can count on from me is to share great synthesis. While we may be competitors, I’ll highlight this review of #MerckChemistry innovations in #JOCasap from my respected industry colleague and friend @drlcsquare.bsky.social The work here is inspiring and drives us to our best #ChemSky
From Cortisone to Enlicitide: A Journey of Synthetic Chemistry Innovations at Merck
Necessity is the mother of invention. Most synthetic chemistry innovations are driven by our desire to make molecules. In the first half of the 20th century, much of this work was inspired by natural ...
pubs.acs.org
April 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Are you in med chem and want to avoid the dreaded “Before” slide in a process chem talk?
Find all your useful crystallization tips in this wonderful #JOCasap from my #PfizerChemistry colleague Jake DeForest on crystallization strategies for Med Chem #ChemSky
Practical Crystallization Strategies for Medicinal Chemists
Abstract. Numerous advantages are afforded by crystallizing a compound directly from a reaction mixture; however, general information, strategies, and inst
pubs.acs.org
August 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Reductive animation without hydrides - this is a very interesting reaction from Hazra (IIT-Delhi) out in #JOCasap where iPrOH as solvent is the reductant and catalyzed by acid (L or B). Scope is limited to anilines at the moment. Interestingly pTSA is almost as good as TMSOTf (cheaper too) #ChemSky
pubs.acs.org
July 14, 2025 at 11:24 PM
So we all know acid can remove a BOC…
What if you have acid labile groups?
Check out this #PfizerChemistry #JOCasap using HFIP and low eq acid to remove PGs - shorter rxn times and cleaner profiles

Oh you’ve got a PMB? Check!
CBZ too! No hydrog needed
#ChemSky
Sulfonic Acid Promoted N-Boc-, N-Cbz-, and N-PMB Cleavage in 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-Propanol (HFIP) and Application to Acid Sensitive Substrates
We report on the mild, sulfonic acid promoted removal of N-Boc, N-Cbz, and N-PMB protecting groups in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (hexafluoroisopropanol; HFIP). According to this method, the typ...
pubs.acs.org
May 19, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Not sure why the pic didn’t post but here’s the TOC graphic for this excellent #JOCasap paper
June 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Cool #ChemSky paper here from GSK in #JOCasap
Neat het formations, Larock indole synthesis and a very interesting ZnCl2 accelerated SnAr on a pyrimidine tosylate
Also includes my favorite amidine synthesis if you’re looking for a Pinner alternative
Zinc Binding Enhances the SNAr Route to GSK332
The route and process for the penultimate intermediate toward an mTOR inhibitor GSK332 in GSK’s respiratory portfolio is described. It relies on a heterocycle formation from a crystalline sodium ketoester enolate and an amidine derived from Pd-catalyzed cyanation of an azaindole. The final step involves an SNAr reaction through selective activation by a hindered sulfonyl chloride and Lewis acid activation to accelerate the rate.
pubs.acs.org
June 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Today in #JOCasap is a paper describing compounds I’d rather not make - Just Say NO and you can say NO2
Kind of surprised the thermal onset temps are that high
#ChemSky #ChemPubs
1,3,4-Oxadiazole-Bridged 3,5-Dinitropyrazoles: Powerful Alliance toward High Performance and High Thermal Stability
The ever-increasing demand for heat-resistant energetic materials in deep mining and space exploration has led to significant interest in developing new materials with exceptional thermal stability and detonation performance. In this work, a novel heat-resistant energetic compound, 2,5-bis(3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (3), was achieved through a simple and straightforward method where two 3,5-dinitropyrazole moieties are linked through a 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring. Compound 3, a symmetrical conjugated molecule, demonstrates superior thermal stability (Tdec = 325 °C), good energetic performance (Dv = 8464 m s–1), and improved physical stability (IS = 7.5 J) compared to the industrially used heat-resistant explosive, HNS. The properties of 3 were further optimized by forming energetic salts, 4 and 5. An attempted reaction to synthesize zwitterionic compound 7, having 3,5-dinitropyrazole and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole ring connected via a C–C bond, resulted in another zwitterionic compound 6. Energetic salts 4 (Tdec = 291 °C) and 5 (Tdec = 275 °C), as well as zwitterionic compound 6 (Tdec = 286 °C), demonstrated excellent decomposition temperatures with good physical stability. The dihydroxylammonium salt (5) (Dv = 8507 m s–1, P = 31.25 GPa) exhibited the best energetic properties, approaching the performance of RDX. The remarkable overall performance of compounds 3-5 makes them suitable candidates for high-performance, heat-resistant explosives.
pubs.acs.org
June 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM