LEAPS-MPS: Aryl Tosylates as Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Oxygen-containing Heterocycles

在这个由化学部管理的项目中，罗文大学的Rashanique Quarels博士和她的研究团队正在开发光催化条件，以生成环化合物、杂环和脱硫方法。该项目的一个主要重点是将酚类转化为增值化学品。选择从酚类中提取的芳基邻基酸酯作为自由基前体，是因为商业上可获得的酚类丰富、底物稳定性和实用性。本研究的目的是提供可见光介导的单电子转移方法的基础知识，以及依赖于光催化剂选择的不同机制。该项目的另一个目标是实施几种方法，以扩大参与和改善STEM劳动力的入学条件。该项目将支持：(1)“STEM职业”系列研讨会，(2)将研究融入课程，以及(3)为化学和生物化学领域代表性不足的学生提供研究经验。Quarels研究小组将研究有机和过渡金属催化剂，这些催化剂使用芳基苯甲酸酯作为自由基前体，产生以碳、氧和硫为中心的自由基。Quarels博士和她的研究团队将进行化学合成、光氧化还原催化、核磁共振分析、质谱分析和计算建模研究。本文的研究有助于更好地理解激发态有机光催化剂与过渡金属光催化剂之间的差异和互补性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this project managed by the Chemistry Division, Dr. Rashanique Quarels and her research team at Rowan University are developing photocatalytic conditions to generate cyclic compounds, heterocycles, and desulfonylation methods. A major focus of this project is conversion of phenols into value-added chemicals. The use of aryl tosylates, derived from phenols, as radical precursors is chosen due to the abundance of commercially available phenols, substrate stability, and utility. The goal of this research is to provide fundamental knowledge on visible-light-mediated, single-electron-transfer methods and resulting divergent mechanisms dependent upon photocatalyst selection. Another objective of this project is to implement several approaches to broaden participation and improve matriculation into the STEM workforce. This project will support: (1) the “Careers in STEM” seminar series, (2) the integration of research into the curriculum, and (3) research experiences for underrepresented students in chemistry and biochemistry. The Quarels research team will study organic and transition-metal catalysts that result in carbon-, oxygen-, and sulfur-centered radicals using aryl tosylates as radical precursors. Dr. Quarels and her research team will perform chemical synthesis, photoredox catalysis, NMR analysis, mass spectrometry analysis, and computational modeling studies. The overall work could provide a better understanding of the differences and complementarity between excited state organic and transition-metal photocatalysts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.