For this month's episode, Dani and LC go all in on Ni-catalyzed cyanations with Caleb Hethcox who recently published 2 papers on the topic - one with a phenomenal intern, Geraldo Duran-Camacho.

Caleb shares how the internal team first identified this challenge and the solutions they explored to replace precious metal catalysts for cyanation reactions! Ultimately, the team identified a Ni-catalyzed system (go base metals!) and depending on the application, different reduction conditions which led to the different publications. As part of Merck's Future Talents Program, Caleb was joined by Geraldo who came to Merck and worked in our laboratories on this project. In addition, Geraldo gives us some of his learnings and insights from the experience which will be of great interest to potential future interns who listen to this episode.

Read the paper we discussed today here:

Nickel-Catalyzed Cyanation of (Hetero)aryl Bromides Using DABAL-Me3 as a Soluble Reductant - Org. Lett.

Air-Tolerant Nickel-Catalyzed Cyanation of (Hetero)aryl Halides Enabled by a Green Reductant - J. Org. Chem.

Merck Future Talent Program

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