This idea was inspired by Dr. @cryocaro.bsky.social who shared a beautiful photobook version of her PhD thesis a few years ago. I knew as soon as I saw it, that I wanted to make one too; a more creative and personal text than the traditional thesis.
Using ESI-MS and some charged phosphines, we identified key intermediates and off-cycle species, and demonstrated low activation barrier for ligand dissociation and rapid formation of active LPd(0) speciesโkey insights as we continue to develop more effective Pd-catalyzed rxns!