People exert large amounts of problem-solving effort playing computer games. Simple image- and text-recognition tasks have been successfully 'crowd-sourced' through games, but it is not clear if more complex scientific problems can be solved with human-directed computing. Protein structure prediction is one such problem: locating the biologically relevant native conformation of a protein is a formidable computational challenge given the very large size of the search space. Here we describe Foldit, a multiplayer online game that engages non-scientists in solving hard prediction problems. Foldit players interact with protein structures using direct manipulation tools and user-friendly versions of algorithms from the Rosetta structure prediction methodology, while they compete and collaborate to optimize the computed energy. We show that top-ranked Foldit players excel at solving challenging structure refinement problems in which substantial backbone rearrangements are necessary to achieve the burial of hydrophobic residues. Players working collaboratively develop a rich assortment of new strategies and algorithms; unlike computational approaches, they explore not only the conformational space but also the space of possible search strategies. The integration of human visual problem-solving and strategy development capabilities with traditional computational algorithms through interactive multiplayer games is a powerful new approach to solving computationally-limited scientific problems.

A new method for the Rh(I)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to N-tert-butanesulfinyl imino esters has been developed for the asymmetric synthesis of arylglycine derivatives. This method provides high yields (61-90%) and diastereoselectivities (>98:2) for a variety of functionalized arylboronic acids. The N-sulfinyl arylglycine ester products are versatile intermediates for further transformations, including selective protecting group removal, conversion to beta-amino alcohols, and direct incorporation into peptides.

[reaction: see text] Copper(I) salts catalyze the three-component assembly reaction between an alpha-diazo ester, an imine, and various alkenes and alkynes to form substituted pyrrolidines with excellent to good diastereoselectivities in high yields. The transition metal-catalyzed decomposition of the alpha-diazo compound in the presence of the imine likely generates a transient azomethine ylid that undergoes addition with various dipolarophiles in a highly convergent manner.