Editorial

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/PR3 palladium(II) and palladium(0) complexes has been synthesized and fully characterized. X-ray crystallographic data have allowed comparison of ligand steric properties. The NHC ligand was found to vary its steric properties as a function of the phosphine co-ligand. These complexes display interesting catalytic properties in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction performed in aqueous media. The pre-catalyst [PdCl2(IPr)(XPhos)] (IPr = N,N'-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; XPhos = 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl) was found to be the most efficient system, promoting the coupling of a wide range of aryl chlorides with boronic acids in aqueous media with a typical catalyst loading of 0.03 mol%

The SysteMHC Atlas project.

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based immunopeptidomics investigates the repertoire of peptides presented at the cell surface by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The broad clinical relevance of MHC-associated peptides, e.g. in precision medicine, provides a strong rationale for the large-scale generation of immunopeptidomic datasets and recent developments in MS-based peptide analysis technologies now support the generation of the required data. Importantly, the availability of diverse immunopeptidomic datasets has resulted in an increasing need to standardize, store and exchange this type of data to enable better collaborations among researchers, to advance the field more efficiently and to establish quality measures required for the meaningful comparison of datasets. Here we present the SysteMHC Atlas (https://systemhcatlas.org), a public database that aims at collecting, organizing, sharing, visualizing and exploring immunopeptidomic data generated by MS. The Atlas includes raw mass spectrometer output files collected from several laboratories around the globe, a catalog of context-specific datasets of MHC class I and class II peptides, standardized MHC allele-specific peptide spectral libraries consisting of consensus spectra calculated from repeat measurements of the same peptide sequence, and links to other proteomics and immunology databases. The SysteMHC Atlas project was created and will be further expanded using a uniform and open computational pipeline that controls the quality of peptide identifications and peptide annotations. Thus, the SysteMHC Atlas disseminates quality controlled immunopeptidomic information to the public domain and serves as a community resource toward the generation of a high-quality comprehensive map of the human immunopeptidome and the support of consistent measurement of immunopeptidomic sample cohorts

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42\ub74% vs 44\ub72%; absolute difference \u20131\ub769 [\u20139\ub758 to 6\ub711] p=0\ub767; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5\u20138] vs 6 [5\u20138] cm H2O; p=0\ub70011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30\ub75% vs 19\ub79%; p=0\ub70004; adjusted effect 16\ub741% [95% CI 9\ub752\u201323\ub752]; p<0\ub70001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0\ub780 [95% CI 0\ub775\u20130\ub786]; p<0\ub70001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status. Funding: No funding

Synergism between N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphorus-based ligands in ruthenium and palladium catalytic systems

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become a very popular class of ligands, which has found uses in numerous catalytic applications. The use of such compounds in combination with phosphorus-based ligands within metal complexes has enabled the design of very active yet robust catalytic systems. The following chapters will describe the design of novel well-defined palladium- and ruthenium-based pre-catalysts featuring a NHC and a phosphorus-based ligand, referred at as mixed ligand systems. Such species were employed in catalysis where their properties appeared highly beneficial, uses at low catalysts loading and under harsh conditions were then envisioned. The preparation of a series of well-defined palladium mixed NHC/phosphine species is presented in chapter 2. Their catalytic activity in the aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl chlorides and boronic acids, using low catalyst loadings, is described. The observation of catalytic activity of the latter systems in the hydration of nitriles prompted us to further investigate this reactivity. This reaction appeared to be operative in the absence of palladium species and could be performed under base-catalysed conditions, which was studied in detail and depicted in chapter 3. The combination of a NHC and a phosphite ligand in ruthenium olefin metathesis pre-catalysts has been underexplored. Preliminary results showed that such species could be readily prepared and presented an unusual geometry and a high catalytic activity. Variations in phosphite-containing ruthenium olefin metathesis pre-catalysts are presented. Chapter 4 describes the investigation of various Schrock carbene moieties in such architectures, as well as their implications in structure and catalysis. Chapter 5 depicts attempts to design olefin metathesis Z-selective pre-catalysts by inserting a chelating NHC moiety within phosphite-containing ruthenium species. This dissertation concludes on the potential of such mixed species in catalysis, and armed with the new knowledge provided by this work, proposes potential developments of such chemistry in the design of always more robust and active catalytic systems

Catalytic Systems Featuring Ionically Tagged N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

International audienceSince the discovery of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), their unique properties as ligands in organometallic chemistry have enabled the synthesis of a myriad of novel metal complexes. Thanks to the facile modulation of this class of ligands, they can be easily functionalized with ionic tags, which has proven to be useful for various applications. Notably, such groups have enabled the immobilization of metal complexes on a variety of supports, and recyclable catalysis could be realized. This chapter describes organometallic species featuring ionically-tagged NHCs for such applications, focusing on catalytic systems that show the best performance in terms of versatility and reusability

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of organometallic reagents to extended Michael acceptors

The copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of nucleophiles onto polyenic Michael acceptors represents an attractive and powerful methodology for the synthesis of relevant chiral molecules, as it enables in a straightforward manner the sequential generation of two or more stereogenic centers. In the last decade, various chiral copper-based catalysts were evaluated in combination with different nucleophiles and Michael acceptors, and have unambiguously demonstrated their usefulness in the control of the regio- and enantioselectivity of the addition. The aim of this review is to report recent breakthroughs achieved in this challenging field

[Pd(NHC)(PR3)] (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) catalysed alcohol oxidation using molecular oxygen

A series of [Pd(NHC)(PR3)] complexes quantitatively form [Pd(eta(2)-O-2)(NHC)(PR3)] products when submitted to an dioxygen atmosphere. Synthetic details and structural features of these Pd-peroxo complexes are described. The palladium compounds were found to be efficient catalysts in the oxidation of alcohols into corresponding carbonyl compounds using O-2 or air as oxidant. Reactions proceed at low catalyst loadings with a wide range of alcohols

Directed ortho C-H borylation catalyzed using Cp*Rh(iii)-NHC complexes

International audienceCp*Rh(NHC) complexes with bulky chiral bidentate NHC-carboxylate ligands were efficiently synthesized and fully characterized including solid-state structures. These unprecedented rhodium(iii) complexes demonstrated high selectivity in pyridine-directed ortho-C-H borylation of arenes under mild conditions