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

NSF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，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。 与传统的酮烷基化方法相比，这种新反应具有许多优点，包括用更环保且成本更低的烯烃替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，以及开发无副产物的工艺。董教授积极参与本科生辅导的研究经验（REU）影响计划、高中生培训的韦尔奇暑期学者计划以及中学生和家庭教育学生早期教育的“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中心合作，通过提供绿色化学培训，为退伍军人和准退伍军人创造研究机会。作为最古老和最常用的碳-碳键形成反应之一，酮烷基化并不是一种经济或环境友好的过程。 该职业项目利用基于过渡金属的催化过程来避免对腐蚀性碱和/或有毒且昂贵的试剂的需要。 改进的反应预计将对药剂、聚合物、精细化学品和调味反应的制备产生影响。 董教授在他与中学生和高中生以及家庭学校环境中的工作中强调了环境和可持续流程的使用。 这些活动涉及来自不同年龄段和背景的参与者。 他的推广和教育工作还包括为准备部署的退伍军人和学生创造研究机会，以便他们在服兵役后可以受雇于化学工业。

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.