Asymmetric Reactions of Oxaziridines

通过这一奖项，化学系的化学合成计划支持威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校化学系的特赫希克·尹教授的研究。尹特智教授将开发控制氨基醇合成的新方法。这些基团负责许多药物和类药物分子与生物受体的选择性结合。为了使药物紧密结合，并对细胞中的一个靶点相对于无数其他靶点具有高选择性，这些N和O基团必须以特定的空间取向引入。该项目开发的方法采用了一种创新的策略，允许使用廉价、无毒的铁和铜催化剂精确控制氨基醇的分子形状。由于含氮和含氧化合物在生物化学中的重要性，这项工作有可能影响到各种药物、农用化学品和生物材料的制造和发现。鉴于这些反应涉及可持续的贱金属催化剂，这些方法还可以减少生产氨基醇化合物过程中的有毒废物。此外，该项目还将有助于制定新的战略，在科学和教育宣传中使用社交媒体，包括面向在科学界历来代表性不足的人群。

With this award, the Chemical Synthesis program of the Chemistry Division is supporting the research of Professor Tehshik Yoon of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Tehshik Yoon will develop new ways to control the synthesis of aminoalcohols. These groups are responsible for the selective binding of many drugs and drug-like molecules to biological receptors. In order for a drug to bind tightly and with high selectivity for one target over countless others in a cell, these N and O groups must be introduced with a specific spatial orientation. The methods developed in this project employ an innovative strategy that allows for exquisite control over the molecular shape of aminoalcohols using inexpensive, non-toxic iron and copper catalysts. Due to the importance of nitrogen- and oxygen-containing compounds in biological chemistry, this work has the potential to impact the manufacture and discovery of a wide variety of medicines, agrochemicals, and biomaterials. Given that the reactions involve sustainable base-metal catalysts, these methods could also result in the reduction of toxic wastes in the manufacturing of aminoalcohol-based compounds. In addition, this project will enable the development of new strategies to use social media in scientific and educational outreach, including to populations historically underrepresented in the sciences.