Induced Atropisomerism / Applications in Asymmetric Organocatalysis

One of the great challenges in synthetic chemistry is to develop small-molecule catalysts that can exert high levels of control the stereochemical course of bond-forming processes. In this project we propose to undertake an ambitious programme of study designed to probe whether conformationally dynamic biphenyls can be combined with simple chiral amines to generate a diverse array of organic catalysts for asymmetric synthesis. As part of this study we plan to investigate application of these catalysts in a range of important carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen bond forming processes. This project will involve a combination of traditional organic synthesis, computational chemistry and robotic synthesis/screening, and we believe that our established expertise in these areas will ensure a high degree of success.