SusChEM: CAREER: Ketone Alkylation Using Simple Olefins: A Sustainable Chemistry Approach

美国国家科学基金会化学部的化学催化计划支持德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校董广斌教授的研究工作，以探索通过酮烷基化反应形成碳-碳(C-C)键的新催化反应。董教授的团队使用过渡金属催化的烯胺介导的碳氢(C-H)官能化策略来转化简单的未活化的烯烃。与经典的酮烷基化方法相比，这种新反应有许多优点，包括用更环保和更便宜的烯烃取代昂贵或有毒的卤化物反应物，使用中性催化条件而不是化学计量的强碱，以及开发一种无副产品的工艺。董教授积极参与本科生导师研究经验(REU)影响计划、高中生培训韦尔奇暑期奖学金计划，以及为中学生和在家接受教育的学生提供早期教育的“影子科学家”计划。董教授还与德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的学生退伍军人服务部合作，通过提供绿色化学培训，为退伍军人和退伍军人预备役军人创造研究机会。酮烷基化反应是最古老、最常用的碳-碳键形成反应之一，但一直以来都不是一种经济、环保的反应过程。这一职业项目使用过渡金属催化工艺，以避免使用腐蚀性碱和/或有毒且昂贵的试剂。改进后的反应有望对医药制剂、聚合物、精细化学品和调味反应的制备产生影响。董教授在与初中生和高中生的工作中以及在家庭和学校环境中强调环境和可持续过程的使用。这些活动的参与者来自不同的年龄组和背景。他的外展和教育努力还包括为退伍军人和准备部署的学生创造研究机会，以便他们在服兵役后可以在化工行业就业。

The Chemical Catalysis Program of the NSF Division of Chemistry supports the research efforts of Professor Guangbin Dong of the University of Texas at Austin to explore new catalytic reactions for the formation of carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds through ketone alkylation reactions. Professor Dong's group uses a transition metal catalyzed enamine-mediated carbon-hydrogen (C-H) functionalization strategy to transform simple, unactivated olefins. This new reaction offers a number of advantages over the classical ketone-akylation methods, including the substitution of expensive or toxic halide reactants with more environmentally benign and less costly olefins, the use of neutral catalytic conditions rather than stoichiometric amounts of strong bases, and the development of a by-product free process. Professor Dong is actively engaged in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) IMPACT Program for undergraduate mentoring, the Welch Summer Scholar Program for high school student training, and the "Shadow a Scientist" program for the early education of middle school and home-schooled students. Professor Dong is also collaborating with UT Austin's Student Veteran Services to create research opportunities for veterans and pre-veterans by providing training in Green Chemistry. As one of the oldest and most-utilized carbon-carbon bond formation reactions, ketone alkylation, has not been an economical or environmentally-friendly process. This CAREER project utilizes transition metal-based catalytic processes to avoid the need for corrosive bases and/or toxic and expensive reagents. The improved reactions are expected to have impact in the preparation of pharmaceutical agents, polymers, fine chemicals, and flavoring reactions. Professor Dong stresses the environment and the use of sustainable processes in his work with middle and high school students as well as in the home-school environment. These activities involved participants from diverse age groups and backgrounds. His outreach and education efforts also involve creating research opportunities for veterans and students readying for deployment so that they can be employed by the chemical industry after their military service.