News & Events

When

Date - November 23, 2020
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

What

Thesis Title: Design and Development of Novel Reactions Utilizing Dienes and Carbene Intermediates

Advisor: Dr. Mitchell Croatt

Abstract:

The design and development of novel reactions are long-standing goals within the synthetic  community. Specifically, reactions that can give molecularly complex products through the  manipulation of readily available starting materials are of considerable interest. In pursuit of this  goal, phenyl hypervalent iodonium alkynyl triflate (PhHIAT) is used as a precursor in obtaining a  reactive cyanocarbene intermediate in-situ. The reactive cyanocarbene is being investigated as a  potential gateway for synthesizing molecules of greater complexity. Specifically, novel reactions  between cyanocarbenes and various symmetrical and unsymmetrical dienes are being explored as  a method for performing [2+1] cycloadditions. These reactions are being studied for their potential  viability as a method for accessing complex molecular moieties and to elucidate their mechanisms.  The discovery of novel reactions adds to the tools that are at the disposal of the synthetic  community and thus investigation into various synthetic methodologies can prove to be invaluable  in achieving previously inaccessible or complex products in the most efficient way.