Enantioselective, decarboxylative 1,2-additions of carboxylic acids to aldehydes, ketones and imines - novel methods for the sustainable, asymmetric synthesis of alcohols and amines

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Georg Manolikakes
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 318495925

Chiral alcohols and amines are valuable building blocks in organic chemistry and a central structural motif in agrochemicals, natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The enantioselective addition of organometallic compounds to aldehydes, ketones and imines is one oft the most important method for the preparation of these compound classes. The aim of this research project is the development of enantioselective, decarboxylative 1,2-additions of (hetero-)aromatic carboxylic acids to aldehydes, ketones and imines as novel, generally applicable approach towards chiral alcohols and amines. Replacement of the organometallic compound with a carboxylic acid leads to a higher atom- and step economy, resulting in more sustainable synthetic methods. Based on extensive mechanistic investigations, new catalyst-systems and -concepts for the highly enantioselective, decarboxylative addition of a broad range of carboxylic acids to various aldehydes, ketones and imines will be developed. Subsequently the relevance of these methods will be demonstrated in the synthesis of selected, particularly relevant alcohols and amines.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants