Sign in

Per-Ola Norrby

@peonor.bsky.social
3K followers 2K following 172 posts

Chemist, husband, father, singer. Sustainability, catalysis, stereochemistry, predictive modeling. Senior Principal Scientist @astrazeneca.bsky.social Gothenburg. he/him

PostsRepliesMedia
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I started chemistry information gathering in libraries in 1980. I first used a machine for it in 1985, it really improved the coverage. The machines have gotten incrementally better, and I’ve developed my skill sorting it in parallel. Sure, I’m using AI now, following through to original sources.
030
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Rocío Mercado Oropeza @rociomer.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Don't miss your chance to register for the Structured Learning Workshop, to be held October 27-28 in Gothenburg, Sweden. 🇸🇪 Amazing line-up of speakers, super excited to be hosting this event now for the 4th year here at Chalmers! Registration link and more info: chalmers.ungapped.io/Events/5f087...
chalmers.ungapped.io
2026 CHAIR Structured Learning Workshop
Welcome to the 2026 Chalmers AI Research Center Workshop for Structured Learning. In this workshop we broadly cover topics related to Structured Learning targeting specifically the following questions...
184
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Is that even a word in English? I thought it was Hawaiian. Those who know know.
200
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The first GroMoChem in Groningen was a fantastic conference, so many great speakers from all areas of chemistry! Many thanks to Syuzanna Harutyunyan and the other organizers!
070
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
This is the first time I’ve been to a conference where shoes were included with the registration! #Wadlopen gromochem.web.rug.nl/wadlopen.php
140
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Fingers crossed for the bumblebees 🐝, this could become a cherry 🍒 summer 🌞!
Cherry tree in full bloom
150
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
A short synthesis of aza-saccharins through anionic Fries Rearrangement. A fun project, thanks Mario Leypold and Karolina Kwapien for bringing me into this! doi.org/10.1039/d6sc...
doi.org
Regioselective synthesis of aza-saccharins via anionic [1,4] Fries-type rearrangement of aryl sulfonimidoyl fluorides
A regioselective synthesis of aromatic and aliphatic aza-saccharins as cyclic sulfonimidamide derivatives is reported, starting from easily accessible aryl sulfonimidoyl fluorides and primary or secon...
000
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Can we start differentiating between predicting enantioselectivity, and predicting the magnitude of the selectivity? The latter includes most recent ML models. You can identify it by the absence of negative numbers, and getting the same value for both enantiomers of the reagent/catalyst.
043
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
On my way home from the organic chemistry winter meeting #OKV39 in Norway. I really liked the format, morning ski, a few invited talks, and the rest of the presentations from young researchers, from bachelor projects to postdocs. And karaoke night yesterday 😊❄️🏔️
120
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Wow, the “hotel room” I got at #OKV39 is actually an apartment with two bedrooms and a living room that seats 11! I should have brought my family! Hopefully the temperature goes up to -15° tomorrow, for some morning skiing before the lectures.
140
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
On my way to Norway for my first Organic Chemistry Winter meeting (with skiing) 😊⛷️, really looking forward to it! #OKV39
050
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Q2MM is the most accurate method for predicting asymmetric selectivity, but developing a reaction specific method requires significant time and expertise. Mikaela just made the process simpler by implementing a modified Fuerza. Thanks to Olaf and Paul for long collaboration doi.org/10.1021/acs....
doi.org
Rapid FF Generation via Hessian-Informed Initial Parameters and Automated Refinement
The FUERZA method and its modifications have greatly improved the generation of force field parameters from electronic structure calculations. The QFUERZA method presented here addresses some of the s...
090
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
We've inserted a modified FUERZA into Q2MM: doi.org/10.26434/che...
doi.org
Rapid FF Generation via Hessian-informed Initial Parameters and Automated Refinement
The FUERZA method and its modifications have greatly improved the generation of accurate force field parameters from electronic structure calculations. The QFUERZA method presented here addresses some...
010
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
@supersciencegrl.co.uk is now a part of our team, and visited Gothenburg for a week! Great to have her, and fun to have time for an outing 😊
Nessa Carson as a flower.
040
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Nessa Carson @supersciencegrl.co.uk · 08/10/2025
For the first time, I predicted a Nobel prize topic correctly! I did not pre-announce it on social media this year, but @cmjaeger.bsky.social and @peonor.bsky.social can attest that I did announce my guess in person to a room of chemists 🤣 #chemsky #MOFs
3161
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Time for the yearly prediction, I’m guessing Paul Anastas and John Warner for Green Chemistry.
240
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Lukas Sigmund @lukasmsigmund.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Now published in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social: Our hybrid QM/ML model for the prediction of the outcome of the aromatic thianthrenation reaction – with @peonor.bsky.social , @valencekjell.com, and many great colleagues from @astra-zeneca.bsky.social. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Predicting Reaction Feasibility and Selectivity of Aromatic C─H Thianthrenation with a QM–ML Hybrid Approach
This paper presents the open-source machine learning model PATTCH, which predicts the reaction feasibility and site-selectivity of aromatic C─H thianthrenation reactions. The model was built using bo....
193
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
We've been working for a while on a Pareto-based search for reactions. This will bring back a diverse set of high-yielding reactions similar to the query, and will favor recent, high-scale reactions. Thanks Christoph for driving this! doi.org/10.1021/acs....
doi.org
Precedent Finder: Locating Pareto-Optimal Reactions
We present Precedent Finder, a cheminformatics search tool for locating relevant reaction information in chemical reaction databases. Precedent Finder is a multiobjective optimization, in that it retr...
140
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
We've used Pareto selection to find a range of diverse and high-yielding precedents for synthesis reactions. Thanks for pushing this, Christoph Bauer! doi.org/10.26434/che...
doi.org
Precedent Finder – Locating Pareto-Optimal Reactions
We present Precedent Finder, a cheminformatics search tool for locating relevant reaction information in chemical reaction databases. Precedent Finder is a multiobjective optimization, in that it re...
130
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
@lukasmsigmund.bsky.social has now enabled us not only to predict reaction selectivity with ML methods, but also the reaction feasibility, very nice work! Thanks for another great collaboration @valencekjell.com doi.org/10.26434/che...
doi.org
Predicting Reaction Feasibility and Selectivity of Aromatic C–H Thianthrenation with a QM-ML Hybrid Approach
The direct thianthrenation of aromatic C–H bonds is a valuable late-stage functionalization strategy that can assist, for example, the development of new drugs. We herein present a predictive computat...
091
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Sometimes publication can take a while. @kannlab.bsky.social started this complex click chemistry while I was still an academic 🙂. doi.org/10.1039/D5OB...
doi.org
Ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of tricyclic 1,5-fused 1,2,3-triazole piperazines
A double cyclization strategy, involving sequential ruthenium-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (RuAAC) and hydrogen borrowing, allows the rapid assembly of tricyclic 1,5-fused 1,2,3-triazole piper...
040
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Robin Bedford @bedcatalysis.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
As promised, postdoc positions at BristolUni.bsky.social available in homogeneous catalysis and computational chemistry exploring the replacement of palladium catalysts by Earth-Abundant Metals: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de... #ChemSky #CompChemSky #ChemJobs #UKChemJobs
bristol.ac.uk
Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol
11916
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
The Stockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the Future was launched today: www.stockholm-declaration.org I believe this will be an important guiding document in years to come. Please read, sign, and share!
stockholm-declaration.org
Home | Stockholm Declaration
1135
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
This has been a spectacular conference, I’ve learned so much! A couple of satellite events remain, then I go home energized for our work on increasing sustainability!
020
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Lukas Sigmund @lukasmsigmund.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
The thianthrenation reaction of aromatic C-H bonds now has its predictive ML model for assessing both reaction feasibility and selectivity. Many thanks to the amazing team, @peonor.bsky.social, @valencekjell.com, and my colleagues at @astra-zeneca.bsky.social. chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
chemrxiv.org
Predicting Reaction Feasibility and Selectivity of Aromatic C–H Thianthrenation with a QM-ML Hybrid Approach
The direct thianthrenation of aromatic C–H bonds is a valuable late-stage functionalization strategy that can assist, for example, the development of new drugs. We herein present a predictive computat...
041
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Senior manager position available in medicinal chemistry at AstraZeneca Gothenburg: careers.astrazeneca.com/job/gothenbu... PS. Don't contact me, I'm not involved in hiring. Just follow the link.
careers.astrazeneca.com
Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry Strategy at AstraZeneca
Learn more about applying for Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry Strategy at AstraZeneca
167
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Big thanks to Helena Leuser for bringing me into this exciting collaboration. Synthetically useful, and I think we understand the reactivity difference between benzenes and pyridines. doi.org/10.1021/acs....
doi.org
Access to Phenolic Pyridopyridazinones and Phthalazinones Using THP Ether-Directed Ortho Lithiation
Route scouting, process research and development, and large-scale synthesis of phenol-substituted pyridopyridazinones (azaphthalazinones) and phthalazinones are reported. For the introduction of one o...
010
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
The first 11k of the year, I’m still aiming for the half-marathon in mid-May 😊 strava.app.link/zxtMQhpOmSb
strava.app.link
030
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Ah, good to see that @nsf-ccas.bsky.social made it to BlueSky, welcome!
130
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Really grateful to be part of this review on predictions of selectivity, driven by @lukasmsigmund.bsky.social ! doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
doi.org
Computational tools for the prediction of site- and regioselectivity of organic reactions
The regio- and site-selectivity of organic reactions is one of the most important aspects when it comes to synthesis planning. Due to that, massive research efforts were invested into computational mo...
1253
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Mónica H. Pérez-Temprano @monicahperez.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨 Looking for a #Postdoc opportunity? Join my research group @iciq.org to work at the interface of transition metal catalysis, organic & organometallic chemistry! 🌍👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 📌 Apply now: careers.iciq.org/jobs/5601050... 🗓 Deadline: March 11 🔄 Shares appreciated!
careers.iciq.org
198
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Did you know that simple Pd-phosphines can be photocatalysts? Here, it enables a carbonylative coupling with little excess of CO, perfect for isotope labelling. Great mechanistic study and reaction development by Erik Sundén! doi.org/10.1021/acs....
doi.org
Mechanistic Study of Photochemical Aminocarbonylation of Alkyl Iodides Catalyzed by a Palladium Catalyst Using Experimental and Computational Methods
Aminocarbonylations are versatile reactions amenable to applications in convergent synthesis and isotope labeling. Herein, a mechanistic study of a previously reported visible-light-promoted aminocarbonylation of unactivated alkyl iodides is presented. This study combines in situ spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and organic chemistry techniques. A T1 excited-state promoted ligand dissociation in concert with an atom transfer radical addition was uncovered as a likely first step in the mechanism, instead of the usual three-center oxidative addition. Improvement in the reaction yield was achieved by optimizing the reaction based on mechanistic insights. This took the form of promoting a computationally uncovered cationic carbonylation pathway with the use of bidentate ligands.
0121
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
We have a chemistry data undergraduate internship open in Macclesfield, only a couple of days left to apply! Don't contact me, follow the link: astrazeneca.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Emerging-Tal...
astrazeneca.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
Chemistry Data Summer Internship
About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. AstraZeneca has long been an advocate of stud...
21413
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Last year, I collaborated with Kathrin Hopmann and others on understanding very different examples of Ni catalysis. It's really important to tune the reaction conditions to enable the best resting state for each reaction type. doi.org/10.1021/jacs... doi.org/10.1002/anie...
doi.org
Kinetically-Controlled Ni-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of Unactivated Secondary Alkyl Bromides without Chain Walking
Herein, we report the direct carboxylation of unactivated secondary alkyl bromides enabled by the merger of photoredox and nickel catalysis, a previously inaccessible endeavor in the carboxylation are...
0110
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Absolute enantiomer determination is hard, even from XRay, and sometimes errors are published. We believe we found such a case, from Ir-catalyzed allylation. Form your own opinion: doi.org/10.1021/acs.... Excellent computational study by Sahil Gahlawat.
doi.org
Computational Study of the Ir-Catalyzed Formation of Allyl Carbamates from CO2
We have employed computational methods to investigate the iridium-catalyzed allylic substitution leading to the formation of enantioenriched allyl carbamates from carbon dioxide (CO2). The reaction occurs in several steps, with initial formation of an iridium-allyl, followed by nucleophilic attack by the carbamate formed in situ from CO2 and an amine. A detailed isomeric analysis shows that the rate-determining step differs for the (R)- and (S)-pathways. These insights are essential for understanding reactions involving enantioselective formation of allyl carbamates from CO2.
150
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Proposal: can we make each email cost 1 cent? I wouldn’t mind paying that, and all spammers would have to pay thousands!
2101
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Off work for the Holidays now, even if I still wake up from dreams of databases for sustainability data. 🤣 Now some weeks of rest, recovery, and rejoicing. Back to work in mid-January.
170
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
I loved the self-roast! Thanks for making this @fekri.io blueskyroast.com/roast/peonor...
blueskyroast.com
The Chemist Who Tweets from the BlueSky Lab
Per-Ola Norrby is blending chemistry and social media like it's a perfect solution.
000
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
This was fun! Mostly accurate, and the roasting only 1st degree burns 😉
120
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
COSMO Lab @labcosmo.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Hello! I'm posting this both here and on the X-rated site, let's see where it gets more re-posts 😇. We are looking for a research software engineer to help us develop (even) better code for #compchem #atomicscale #machinelearning. Check out the specs and apply! www.epfl.ch/labs/cosmo/i...
epfl.ch
Jobs
-
35953
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 02/12/2024
Any progress bringing the @amerchemsociety.bsky.social journal feeds over here?
4576
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Philippe Schwaller @pschwllr.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
We are hiring (resharing appreciated)! Given recent successful grant applications (I got my SNSF Starting Grant 🚀), we are extending the LIAC team with multiple openings (PhD/postdoc) for 2025. Apply now (deadline: December 20th) by filling in this form: forms.fillout.com/t/eq5ADAw3kkus. #ChemSky
610271
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
This was fun and easy! Except the download didn’t work, so this is a screen capture. Make your own at skircle.me
A circle of my interactions in Bluesky, generated by https://skircle.me/
0100
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
The longest I’ve had between the first acquisition of data to publication is 22 years: doi.org/10.1021/om10... The longest between outlining the idea (in my PhD) to final realization and publication is 36 years: doi.org/10.1038/s414...
doi.org
Sterically Governed Selectivity in Palladium-Assisted Allylic Alkylation
The selectivity in the Pd-assisted allylic alkylation has been investigated in a system with a ligand tethered to the allylic moiety. Isolation of (η3-allyl)Pd complexes and stoichiometric reaction with malonate nucleophiles allowed separation of various factors influencing the regioselectivity in a system that cannot undergo apparent rotation. Unexpectedly, trans effects were found to have only a minor influence on the selectivity, whereas changing the tether length could shift the preference from favored internal to dominant terminal attack. DFT-assisted analysis revealed that the dominant selectivity-determining factors are the forced rotation of the allylic moiety and an important steric repulsion from a syn-alkyl substituent.
2253
Reposted by Per-Ola Norrby
Kjell Jorner @valencekjell.com · 21/11/2024
What better first post than to advertise this position. Come join our group! Our group is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for a project on reactive machine learning potentials. Reposts and spreading the word to interested people in your network appreciated! jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
jobs.ethz.ch
Postdoc position in reactive machine learning potentials
06134
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Making chemical synthesis fossil-free and without CO₂ cost is possible (in 10-20 years), but will require lots of green energy. We need more of all types! Wind, solar, nuclear.
2141
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
For those who followed me recently: do you want to be followed back? The most important is your bio; if there are things there that interest me, I follow back. I haven’t been able to look carefully, >1000 new followers in a week, but I will get back to it when the rush abates. Empty = no follow.
0190
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
It was such a pleasure singing the Rainbow Suite by Mikael Carlsson with the Haga Motet-choir this weekend. 🎶🏳️‍🌈 Allyship is not only for the Pride week. Now we’ll take this on the road, Stockholm on Saturday.
020
Per-Ola Norrby @peonor.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
What an explosion! It took a year to reach a couple of hundred followers, and now to >1000 in a week! Welcome all, may this space be beneficial to your mental health and allow you to grow!
0380