CAREER: New Synthetic Methods via Allyl Organometallics

库克教授的研究从亲核性和亲电性的角度探索了新的烯丙基金属化学。亲核烯丙基金属物种是众所周知的，但几乎没有对其他C-C pi键起到亲核作用的物种，如炔烃。事实上，烯丙基参与了与末端炔和酯的竞争反应，表现出明显的偏好与炔的反应。库克的实验室将进一步探索控制这一反应的因素。亲电的烯丙基金属化学是由(Pi)烯丙基钯物种提供的。库克教授的团队设计了一种方案，通过开环、可逆和催化形成烯丙基钯，导致立体生成中心的异构化为单一构型。将这一过程与瞬时的烯丙基钯的亲核加成联系起来，有可能提供精细的多功能中间体，用于精制成光学纯的非天然氨基酸等产品。库克教授的教学主动性突出表现在，他努力让大学化学教师参与一个暑期研究项目，其中包括部落学院的代表。此外，基于网络的教学媒体还将进一步发展，除了一个已经很受欢迎的网站外，还将包括分子动画，该网站提供课程笔记、一般资源和匿名邮件形式，以加强学生和教授之间的交流。有了这个职业奖，合成有机计划支持北达科他州立大学的格雷戈里·R·库克博士的研究和教学努力。库克教授的研究涉及新颖的基本化学反应，这些化学反应被用来构建制药行业中经常使用的看似简单的分子。正在研究的过程的基本性质意味着它们可能被证明是非常重要的，并在化学中产生广泛的影响。库克教授的教学计划包括让小型学院(包括部落学院)的教师在实验室环境中感受到科学发现的兴奋，以及开发使用最新的网络和基于互联网的工具的通信和教学工具。

Professor Cook's research explores new allylmetal chemistry from a nucleophilic as well as an electrophilic viewpoint. Nucleophilic allylmetal species are well-known, but few if any act as nucleophiles toward other C-C pi bonds such as alkynes. In fact, involvement of an allylindium in a competitive reaction with a terminal alkyne and an ester showed a distinct preference for reaction with the alkyne. Further exploration of the factors controlling this reaction will be forthcoming from Cook's laboratory. Electrophilic allylmetal chemistry is afforded by (pi-)allylpalladium species. Professor Cook's group has devised a scheme whereby ring-opening, reversible, and catalytic formation of an allylpalladium results in epimerization of a stereogenic center to a single configuration. Linking this process with nucleophilic addition to the transient allylpalladium has the potential to provide elaborate polyfunctional intermediates for elaboration into such products as optically pure non-natural amino acids. Professor Cook's teaching initiative is highlighted by efforts to involve college chemistry teachers in a summer research program, including representatives of the Tribal Colleges. Additionally, web-based instructional media are slated for further development, to include molecular animations in addition to an already-popular web site that offers course notes, general resources, and an anonymous mail form to enhance communication between student and professor.With this CAREER award, the Synthetic Organic Program supports the research and teaching efforts of Dr. Gregory R. Cook of North Dakota State University. Professor Cook's research deals with novel, fundamental chemical reactions that are employed for the construction of deceptively simple molecules that are often used in the pharmaceutical industry. The fundamental nature of the processes being studied means that they could prove to be highly significant and have broad impact in chemistry. Professor Cook's teaching initiatives include exposing teachers at small colleges (including the Tribal Colleges) to the excitement of scientific discovery in the laboratory setting, and developing communications and teaching tools that employ the latest web-and internet-based tools.