CAREER: METAL CATALYZED METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ORGANOSILANES

这个职业奖从化学合成计划在化学部支持教授唐纳德A。特拉华州大学的沃森说。沃森教授将开发催化方法，用于使用甲硅烷基赫克型反应将硅基团引入不饱和烃框架。这些新的反应将允许各种简单和广泛可用的烯烃和二烯烃转化为高价值的有机硅烷，其在材料和生物活性分子的化学合成中具有广泛的应用。此外，沃森教授将进行旨在了解甲硅烷基-赫克反应机制的实验，以增加对这些过程的基本了解，并帮助开发这些和相关转化的改进反应条件。该研究计划的成功开发预计将对需要制备合成有机化合物的广泛努力产生积极影响，包括制药，农用化学品和材料工业以及生物和化学研究。 教授沃森还将制定一个综合的本科研究计划，旨在让少数民族学生参与尖端的化学研究。他的研究的这一教育组成部分的目标是提供鼓励和机会，以学生谁传统上没有参加本科研究。预计这将有利于参与学生通过增加连接到他们的研究领域，指导关系的发展，以及批判性思维和研究技能的建设，所有这些都有望增加这些学生在科学领域的保留，并为未来的就业或研究生学习提供关键的培训。

This CAREER award from the Chemical Synthesis Program in the Division of Chemistry supports the work of Professor Donald A. Watson of the University of Delaware. Professor Watson will develop catalytic methods for the introduction of silicon groups into unsaturated hydrocarbon frameworks using silyl-Heck-type reactions. These new reactions will allow for the conversion of a variety of simple and widely available alkenes and dienes into high value organosilanes, which have broad applications in chemical synthesis of both materials and biologically active molecules. In addition, Professor Watson will conduct experiments directed at understanding the mechanisms of silyl-Heck reactions, both to increase fundamental understanding of these processes and to aid in developing improved reaction conditions for these and related transformations. The successful development of this research program is expected to have positive impact on a wide range of endeavors requiring the preparation of synthetic organic compounds, including pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and materials industries, as well as biological and chemical research. Professor Watson will also develop an integrated undergraduate research program directed at involving underrepresented minority students in cutting-edge chemical research. The goal of this educational component of his research is to provide encouragement and opportunities to students who have traditionally not participated in undergraduate research. This is expected to benefit participating students through increased connection to their field of study, development of mentoring relationships, and building of critical thinking and research skills, all of which are expected to increase retention of these students in sciences and provide critical training for future employment or graduate studies.