Stereoretentive-Enantioconvergent Catalysis: A New Concept in Asymmetric Synthesis

This project will experimentally establish a completely new method for accessing enantiopure materials starting from racemic substrates: stereoretentive-enantioconvergent catalysis. The ability to synthesize chiral molecules in enantiopure form is vitally important, most recognizably for the pharmaceutical industry. This is because the molecules of life are chiral (e.g., D-sugars and L-amino acids) and enantiomers often interact very differently with living organisms. Classically, asymmetric synthesis utilizing racemic substrates is limited to achieving a maximum yield of 50%. Enantioconvergent catalysis avoids this limitation with both enantiomers of the starting material being converted into a single enantioenriched product. This project will establish a conceptually new stereoretentive-dimerisation approach that results in both enantiomers of the starting material being incorporated into the product with no de-racemization required. This new concept will prove highly valuable for the synthesis of small enantiopure building blocks and complex molecules, which will be of high value in all areas of synthesis.

Faculty Supervisor:

Louis Barriault

Student:

Partner:

University of Edinburgh

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: