New Catalytic Strategies for Chemical Synthesis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
This project will investigate the development of new catalytic strategies for chemical synthesis. The discovery of new chemical reactivity brought about by the action of catalysts is a central aspect of modern day chemical synthesis and leads to new processes that have applications in medicine, materials and agriculture. Our need to make distinct small molecules of function is enabled by the invention of these novel chemical reactions. This project is aimed at the identification of novel reactivity induced by catalysts using feedstock chemicals. Catalysts ranging from 1st row transition metals, late transition metals and organocatalysts will be explored as part of this project. Feedback chemicals that are attractive for this project will include aliphatic alcohols, amines and carboxylic acids. Suitable applications to demonstrate the efficacy of this new chemistry will be investigated in due course.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Matthew Gaunt (Primary Supervisor) | |
| William Whitehurst (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1800879 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | William Whitehurst |
| Description | The research I have conducted so far has primarily focused on developing new chemical transformations using transition metal catalysis (palladium). Specfically, the work has focused on functionalizing amine molecules - an important class of nitrogen-containing molecule found in pharmaceutical agents. A series of new reactions have been developed in which C-H bonds within amines have been directly converted to C-C bonds in a single step (using a strategy known as "C-H activation"), providing access to more complex amine products. Other than palladium catalysis, I have also been involved in a project involving light-mediated three-component coupling of simple feedstocks - alkyl halides, secondary amines and aldehydes - for the synthesis of tertiary amines. Tertiary amines are the most common type of amine within small molecule drugs, and therefore this new transformation will prove highly valuable to practicioners of medicinal chemistry. The reactions involves the generation of alkyl radicals and has exceptionally broad scope, making it ready for use by end-user chemists. |
| Exploitation Route | The new protocols may prove useful to practioners of medicinal chemistry. C-H activation provides a distinct strategy towards steamlining the synthesis of drug molecule targets. Addtionally, existing molecules can be derivatised using these methods to create analogous compounds with modified properties. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |