New gold catalysts for enantioselective cyclization reactions

• Applicant: Dr. Dagmar Scharnagel
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2018 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 413882120

The efficient and stereoselective construction of complex molecular scaffolds is a major challenge for the synthesis of complex natural products and drug molecules. Gold catalysis proved to be especially suited for this task. Numerous chiral ligands have been developed to date that deliver the products of various enantioselective carbocyclization reactions with excellent enantioselectivity. Nevertheless, the substrate scope for which high optical purities can be achieved is often limited which restricts the application to the synthesis of target molecules.The objective of this project is the design of novel chiral ligands based on a biaryl phosphine framework. This architecture accounts for the unique linear coordination geometry in Au(I) complexes as it allows to position the chiral information distant from the metal binding phosphine but in close proximity to the site of reaction. In addition, the steric and electronic properties can be adjusted by several variable residues at the chiral ligand. The corresponding gold complexes will be evaluated in cyclization reactions and ultimately be used for the assembly of valuable scaffolds.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Spain
• Host: Professor Antonio M. Echavarren, Ph.D.