CAREER: METAL CATALYZED METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ORGANOSILANES

该职业奖由化学系化学合成项目颁发，支持特拉华大学Donald A. Watson教授的工作。Watson教授将开发利用硅基heck型反应将硅基团引入不饱和烃框架的催化方法。这些新的反应将使各种简单和广泛使用的烯烃和二烯转化为高价值的有机硅烷，这在材料和生物活性分子的化学合成中都有广泛的应用。此外，沃森教授将进行实验，旨在了解硅-赫克反应的机制，既增加对这些过程的基本理解，又有助于为这些和相关转化开发更好的反应条件。这项研究计划的成功发展预计将对合成有机化合物的制备产生广泛的积极影响，包括制药、农化、材料工业以及生物和化学研究。沃森教授还将开发一个综合的本科研究项目，旨在让代表性不足的少数民族学生参与尖端化学研究。他研究的这一教育部分的目标是为那些传统上没有参与本科研究的学生提供鼓励和机会。预计这将使参与的学生受益，通过增加与他们的研究领域的联系，发展师徒关系，建立批判性思维和研究技能，所有这些都有望增加这些学生在科学领域的保留率，并为未来的就业或研究生学习提供重要的培训。

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.