Base Metal Catalysis for the Mild Production of Carbocation-like Intermediates

有机合成在现代社会中的作用是不可否认的，各行各业都依靠合成途径来创造自然和设计的分子，改善我们的日常生活。在药物发现领域，开发新的和有效的反应方法对于生产高效率和最小副作用的治疗方法至关重要。克服与选择性、效率和可持续性相关的挑战对于这些新的合成技术产生重大影响至关重要。一个很有前途的研究途径是温和地生成反应性中间体，如自由基和碳正离子，以促进新分子结构的构建。这些中间体具有独特的能力，可以制造其他合成途径不易获得的化合物。然而，由于缺乏对化学选择性和立体选择性的精确控制，以及它们的生成通常需要的苛刻条件，它们在合成策略中的应用受到限制。在本研究项目中，我们的目标是通过开发一种在温和条件下可控生成类碳正离子中间体的可持续方法来解决这些限制。这种方法的一个组成部分是利用钴催化剂，它不仅有效，而且比使用贵金属催化剂更具可持续性。通过这些创新的反应，我们的项目旨在扩大可获取分子的范围，从而创造出应用于不同行业的各种化合物。

The role of organic synthesis in modern society is undeniable, with various industries relying on synthetic pathways to create natural and designed molecules, improving our everyday lives. In the realm of drug discovery, the development of new and efficient reaction methods is essential for producing therapeutics with high efficacy and minimal side effects. Overcoming challenges related to selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability is critical for these new synthetic techniques to have a significant impact.One promising avenue of research involves the mild generation of reactive intermediates, such as radicals and carbocations, to facilitate the construction of new molecular structures. These intermediates have the unique ability to make compounds that are not easily accessible by other synthetic routes. However, their application in synthetic strategies has been limited by the lack of precise control over chemo- and stereoselectivity, as well as the harsh conditions often required for their generation.In this research project, we aim to address these limitations by developing a sustainable method for the controlled generation of carbocation-like intermediates under mild conditions. An integral part of this approach is the utilisation of cobalt catalysis, which is not only effective but also more sustainable than using precious metal catalysts. Through these innovative reactions, our project seeks to expand the repertoire of accessible molecules, enabling the creation of diverse compounds with applications across various industries.