Studies in Organic Chemistry

Harvard University, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

The focus of this research involves the development of new chiral catalysts. Neutral and charged bi-, tri- and tetradentate ligands will be employed in conjunction with cationic copper (2+) nickel (2+), scandium (3+), and cerium (4+) metals in the generation of new families of chiral Lewis acids. Reactions under investigation will include enantioselective carbonyl addition processes, particularly aldol and aldol reaction variants, cycloaddition, and conjugate- and Michael addition processes. This program will continue to develop aldol reaction catalysts that will implement both the enolization process and moderate the subsequent electrophile-enolate bond construction with absolute stereochemical control. With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. David A. Evans, of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. Professor Evans will focus his work on using a combination of fundamental concepts in inorganic coordination chemistry with mechanistic principles in organic chemistry for the design of chiral metal-based complexes that function as catalysts for important families of carbon-carbon bond forming processes. The project provides an excellent venue for the training of graduate students and the results of the research will have significant impact in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.