News & Events

When

Date - November 20, 2015
1:00 pm

What

Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
University of Ottawa

“Reaction Development Using Temporary Intramolecularity and Amphoteric Isocyanates”

Abstract:

Most agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals contain nitrogen atoms in their structure, and C-N bond forming reactions account for approximately 15% of the reactions used in pharmaceutical R & D efforts. Our group has long been interested in metal-free amination reactions to rapidly assemble nitrogen heterocycles, amines and imines derivatives. The challenges met when targeting difficult intermolecular alkene hydroaminations have led to opportunities in two areas: 1) the use aldehydes as catalysts exploiting temporary intramolecularity to achieve difficult or impossible reactions; 2) the discovery of nitrogen-substituted isocyanates, a family of amphoteric isocyanates with little literature precedence and considerable untapped synthetic potential for the incorporation of the N-N-CO motif in bioactive molecules. Recent reaction development efforts exploiting these approaches will be presented.