Cooperative Catalysis: Asymmetric Transformations with Unprotected Heteroatoms under Phase-Transfer Conditions

• Applicant: Dr. Martin Pawliczek
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290703121

Asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis has become an indispensable synthetic tool, widely established in the field of modern organic chemistry. Advantages such as the mild reaction conditions, simplified large-scale applications and the environmentally benign reaction systems render it as an attractive field with regards to sustainable green chemistry. Nevertheless, a broad range of pronucleophiles, improper for asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis, still exists. This project aims to shrink this broad range by the development of a novel method to render the application of substrates equipped with unprotected heteroatoms possible. For that purpose, a cooperative catalysis approach will be implemented. The major idea is to use a co-catalyst which directly coordinates the pronucleophile to modify its properties such as acidity and reactivity with a concomitant formation of an anionic complex for further interactions with the chiral phase-transfer catalyst. Fine-tuning of this anionic complex should render its application in miscellaneous organic transformations possible.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Japan
• Host: Professor Dr. Keiji Maruoka