New methods for the asymmetric halogenation of alkenes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ulrich Hennecke
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2012 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 227742917

The addition of halogen electrophiles to the C-C-double bond is one of the most commonly used methods for the functionalisation of alkenes. Even simple non-activated alkenes react with chlorine, bromine and iodine-based electrophiles to give cyclic halonium ions that are opened by a nucleophile in a second step. Although this class of reactions is well known, only a limited number of reagent-controlled asymmetric versions have been described. Especially methods for intermolecular variants such as the dihalogenation of alkenes are missing. Therefore, in this project we develop new procedures for the catalytic asymmetric halofunctionalisation of alkenes based on bifunctional organocatalysts and/or novel chiral conterions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants