Zirconocenes in Organic Synthesis

University Of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA

Investigators

Abstract

The goals of this research are: (a) The development of new, improved ligands for asymmetric Zr-Zn transmetalation-carbonyl addition reactions. (b) The use of zirconocene methodology for the total synthesis of lophotoxin. (c) The development of a catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition protocol for organozirconocenes using chiral Cu(I) complexes. (d) The study and synthetic applications of the water acceleration effect in the asymmetric carboalumination reaction of alkenes using chiral zirconocene dichlorides. (e) The study of epoxide opening cascades mediated by cationic zirconocenes that can lead to linked and fused tetrahydronfurans and pyrans of interest to polyether natural product synthesis. With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting thre Research of Dr. Peter Wipf of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Wipf will focus his work on developing new zirconocene-based methodology for applications in organic synthesis, including the total synthesis of natural products. The work has broader impacts for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.