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The UK's Riverside Community Health Care Trust has joined partners with Middlesex University to create a self-managed learning program for employees. The program uses learning contracts and professional development portfolios to prepare managers and other personnel to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving health care market. This work-based learning program is becoming a success, despite the initial misgivings of many employees.

The application of amine derivatives as coupling partners is rare due to the inherent strength of the C–N bond. Herein, we report the first cross-electrophile coupling reaction of unstrained benzylic sulfonamides. Nickel-catalyzed intramolecular cross-electrophile coupling reactions of acyclic and cyclic benzylic sulfonamides with pendant alkyl chlorides generate cyclopropane products. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations are consistent with initiation of the reaction by magnesium iodide accelerated oxidative addition of the benzylic sulfonamide. This work establishes neutral and unstrained amine derivatives as XEC partners, furnishes structural rearrangement of benzylic sulfonamides, and provides valuable information regarding catalyst design for the development of new cross-electrophile coupling reactions of carbon–heteroatom bonds.

Mechanistic investigation and new reaction development are intertwined. This interdependence presents challenges and opportunities in development of all transformations, particularly for those that employ base metal catalysts. In comparison to precious metal counterparts, these catalysts yield less easily to mechanistic analysis. However, base metal catalysts can provide new modes of reactivity and opportunities for discovery. In this Commentary, we highlight a developing field: nickel-catalyzed stereoselective alkyl cross-coupling reactions. While key features of the relevant catalytic cycles remain ambiguous, chemical intuition and key mechanistic experiments have provided the stepping stones for discovery of stereoselective transformations.

British Airways' Quality Education Through Self-Teach (QUEST) Management Development Center is an example of a successful open learning program. The Center's staff emphasizes customer service and and acts as a consultant on other training matters. The QUEST concept is being expanded into other areas, using an integrated approach to respond to long-term business needs. Marketing and evaluation of QUEST are also becoming primary concerns.

The article discusses the findings of a research into the neuroscience of learning to lead conducted by Ashridge Business School using its The Leadership Experience: Leading on the Edge (TLE) leadership simulation. It states that the study found that experiential learning, also known as simulated experiences, better prepare managers to real-life stresses at work. It also underscores the benefit of a well-designed experiential learning exercise in the retention of learning.

The article offers information on how to be flexible without tying yourself up in knots to have a say over your working hours has great attractions for both managers and employees, if the potential pitfalls has acknowledged from the outset. Topics include the flexible working arrangements being often under the radar, and the managers who are new to the concept of flexible working often struggle to trust employees.

Presents abstracts of studies on knowledge management. 'Evolve: Succeeding in the Digital Culture of Tomorrow,' by Rosabeth Moss Kanter; 'And the Winner is Everyone,' by Erika Lucas; Innovation at the Speed of Information,' by Steven D. Eppinger.