Radical Aromatic Substitution via Atom-Transfer Addition

米德尔伯里学院化学与生物化学系的Jeffrey H. Byers教授，因其通过原子转移加成进行自由基芳香族取代的研究，获得了有机与大分子化学项目颁发的本科生研究奖。拜尔斯教授研究芳香和杂芳香物质与各种亲电自由基的反应。通过使用合适的保护基团和形成芳烃铬三羰基配合物来修饰芳烃环的电子性质，从而提供与富电子自由基反应的芳烃底物。拜尔斯教授还在探索导致有丝新世和吡咯利西啶环系统形成的分子内反应，这是一系列生物活性化合物的共同结构特征。虽然含有未配对电子（“自由基”）的有机分子通常非常活跃，但作为有机分子合成的潜在参与者，它们直到最近才受到相对较少的关注。在有机和大分子化学项目的本科生机构研究奖的支持下，米德尔伯里学院化学和生物化学系的杰弗里·h·拜尔斯教授探索了一类被称为原子转移添加的自由基形成反应，因为它们能够促进芳香族化合物的合成。通过这种化学的发现和开发，可能获得的产品包括芳基乙酸，这是一种常用的镇痛和抗炎药物，以及各种更复杂的结构，代表了一系列生物活性化合物的共同结构特征。

Professor Jeffrey H. Byers, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Middlebury College, is supported by a Research in Undergraduate Institutions award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program for his studies of radical aromatic substitution via atom transfer addition. Professor Byers studies the reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic substances with a variety of electrophilic radicals. The electronic nature of the aromatic ring is modified through the use of suitable protecting groups and through the formation of arene chromium tricarbonyl complexes, thus providing aromatic substrates reactive toward electron-rich radicals. Professor Byers is also exploring intramolecular reactions leading to the formation of mitocene and pyrrolizidine ring systems, common structural features of a range of biologically active compounds. Although organic molecules containing an unpaired electron (`radicals`) are often very reactive, they have until recently received comparatively little attention as potential participants in the synthesis of organic molecules. With the support of a Research in Undergraduate Institutions award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Jeffrey H. Byers, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Middlebury College, explores a class of radical-forming reactions known as atom-transfer additions for their ability to facilitate the synthesis of aromatic compounds. Products potentially made accessible through the discovery and development of this chemistry include aryl acetic acids, a general class of compounds frequently used as analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications, as well as a variety of more complex structures representing common structural features of a range of biologically active compounds.