Machine Learning Yield Prediction from NiCOlit, a Small-Size Literature Data Set of Nickel Catalyzed C-O Couplings

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Aug 17;144(32):14722-14730. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c05302. Epub 2022 Aug 8.

Abstract

Synthetic yield prediction using machine learning is intensively studied. Previous work has focused on two categories of data sets: high-throughput experimentation data, as an ideal case study, and data sets extracted from proprietary databases, which are known to have a strong reporting bias toward high yields. However, predicting yields using published reaction data remains elusive. To fill the gap, we built a data set on nickel-catalyzed cross-couplings extracted from organic reaction publications, including scope and optimization information. We demonstrate the importance of including optimization data as a source of failed experiments and emphasize how publication constraints shape the exploration of the chemical space by the synthetic community. While machine learning models still fail to perform out-of-sample predictions, this work shows that adding chemical knowledge enables fair predictions in a low-data regime. Eventually, we hope that this unique public database will foster further improvements of machine learning methods for reaction yield prediction in a more realistic context.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Machine Learning*
  • Nickel*

Substances

  • Nickel