Organic Transformations with Dihapto-Coordinated Arene Complexes

弗吉尼亚大学的W.Dean Harman教授得到了化学系化学合成计划的支持，他进行了一项研究，探索特殊设计的钨配合物，即所谓的脱芳构剂，协调和激活各种类型的芳香分子进行新的化学转化的能力。这种方法的基础是实现高度pi-碱性的过渡金属络合物，它与芳香族分子形成强大的背键相互作用。主要集中在三个方面：1)苯酚和苯胺的活化和操纵；2)多环芳烃的活化和操纵；3)开发可用于合成芳香族分子衍生的富对映体有机产物的富对映体脱芳构剂。这些新的方法将被用来产生新的有机化合物，这些化合物将被广泛地筛选出生物功能和药用价值。新的合成方法可以将无处不在的芳香分子转化为高度官能化的分子，为制备其他方法难以获得的新合成物质提供了简便的途径。在大多数情况下，这些都是全新的化合物，生化和医药界对它们感兴趣，因为它们是开发新的生物探针和药物的潜在先导。该项目是高度跨学科的，结合了配位化学、有机金属学、有机和药物化学的元素。因此，参与这项研究的博士和本科生将接受广泛的教育，这是他们成为现代合成化学家所必需的。

Professor W. Dean Harman of the University of Virginia is supported by the Chemical Synthesis Program in the Division of Chemistry to conduct research that explores the ability of specially designed tungsten complexes, known as dearomatization agents, to coordinate and activate various types of aromatic molecules toward novel chemical transformations. The cornerstone of this approach is the implementation of highly pi-basic transition metal complexes that forms strong back-bonding interactions with the aromatic molecule. The research focuses on three areas: 1) the activation and manipulation of phenols and anilines 2) the activation and manipulation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and 3) the development of enantio-enriched dearomatization agents that can be used for the synthesis of enantio-enriched organic products derived from aromatic molecules. These new methodologies will be used to generate new organic compounds that will be broad-screened for biological function and medicinal value.New synthetic methods that can convert ubiquitous aromatic molecules into highly functionalized molecules provide facile routes for the preparation of new synthetic substances not readily available from other methods. In most cases, these are entirely new compounds, and are of interest to the biochemical and medicinal communities as potential leads for the development of new biological probes and medicines. The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining elements of coordination chemistry, organometallics, organic, and medicinal chemistries. As a result, Ph. D. and undergraduate students involved with this research will receive the type of broad education required for them to be successful as modern synthetic chemists.