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Automated transition state (TS) structure computations for a recently reported Pd-catalysed conjugated addition of arylboronic acids to 2-substituted chromones (D. Baek, H. Ryu, J. Y. Ryu, J. Lee, B. M. Stoltz and S. Hong, Chem. Sci. , 2020, 11 , 4602–4607) reveal unexpected conformations of the key stereodifferentiating benzyl group on the pyridine-dihydroisoquinoline (PyDHIQ) ligand. Detailed analysis shows that stereoselectivity is determined primarily by favourable non-covalent contacts between this benzyl group and the substrates, combined with torsional strain in the primary TS structure leading to the minor stereoisomer. This finding should inform further use and analysis of PyDHIQ and related ligands in other stereoselective transformations. 

Abstract We describe a bundle for UCSF ChimeraX called SEQCROW that provides advanced structure editing capabilities and quantum chemistry utilities designed for complex organic and organometallic compounds. SEQCROW includes graphical presets and bond editing tools that facilitate the generation of publication‐quality molecular structure figures while also allowing users to build molecular structures quickly and efficiently by mapping new ligands onto existing organometallic complexes as well as adding rings and substituents. Other capabilities include the ability to visualize vibrational modes and simulated IR spectra, to compute and visualize molecular descriptors including percent buried volume, ligand cone angles, and Sterimol parameters, to process thermochemical corrections from quantum mechanical computations, to generate input files for ORCA, Psi4, and Gaussian, and to run and manage computational jobs. 

Chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) have emerged as powerful organocatalysts for asymmetric reactions, and applications of computational quantum chemistry have revealed important insights into the activity and selectivity of these catalysts. In this tutorial review, we provide an overview of computational tools at the disposal of computational organic chemists and demonstrate their application to a wide array of CPA catalysed reactions. Predictive models of the stereochemical outcome of these reactions are discussed along with specific examples of representative reactions and an outlook on remaining challenges in this area. 

Abstract As the tools of computational quantum chemistry have continued to mature, larger and more complex molecular systems have become amenable to computational study. However, studies of these complex systems often require the execution of enormous numbers of computations, which can be a tedious and error‐prone process if done manually. We have developed a suite of free, open‐source tools to facilitate the automation of quantum chemistry workflows. These tools are collected under the organization QChASM (Quantum Chemistry Automation and Structure Manipulation) and include functionality for building and manipulating complex molecular structures and performing routine tasks (AaronTools), a toolkit for automating TS optimizations and predictions of the outcomes of selective homogeneous catalytic reactions, and a plug‐in for UCSF ChimeraX that provides a graphical interface for building complex molecular structures and representing output from quantum chemistry computations. These tools are described below, with a focus on the recent Python implementation of AaronTools. This article is categorized under:Structure and Mechanism > Reaction Mechanisms and CatalysisSoftware > Quantum Chemistry 

Abstract We report herein a rare example of enantiodivergent aldehyde addition with β‐alkenyl allylic boronates via chiral Brønsted acid catalysis. 2,6‐Di‐9‐anthracenyl‐substituted chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed asymmetric allylation using β‐vinyl substituted allylic boronate gave alcohols withRabsolute configuration. The sense of asymmetric induction of the catalyst in these reactions is opposite to those in prior reports. Moreover, in the presence of the same acid catalyst, the reactions with β‐2‐propenyl substituted allylic boronate generated homoallylic alcohol products withSabsolute configuration. Unusual substrate‐catalyst C−H⋅⋅⋅π interactions in the favoured reaction transition state were identified as the origins of observed enantiodivergence through DFT computational studies.