Mechanistic Studies of Organic Reactivity

罗格斯大学化学系的Jeehiun Katherine Lee教授将利用化学系化学结构、动态和机制B项目提供的资金来探索有机反应性和机制。一个主要的焦点将是化学反应中反应物的互补极性。这通常被称为亲核性（“寻找原子核”）或亲电性（“寻找电子”）。各种反应物的亲核性和亲电性将在气相中进行研究，最终目标是建立一个尺度来更好地理解基本的反应性。第二个重点将是由n -杂环碳烯（NHCs）催化的反应。NHCs是一种新型有机物质，已被证明可作为多种重要合成反应的催化剂。人们对这些反应的机理了解甚少。在这两个目标中，化学反应将通过计算模型和实验的结合来研究。实验研究在气相进行，使用质谱仪。溶剂的缺乏使固有的反应性得以显露。该项目有可能为广泛的有机物种建立反应模式，并提高NHCs作为化学合成催化剂的效用。改进的合成方法反过来影响了化学的许多领域，包括制造药物和其他有用的化学品。这些基础的机械研究也为本科生和研究生的科学家提供了教育机会。该项目还为科学界代表性不足的群体提供指导和培训。气相实验（质谱）和计算（量子力学）方法用于询问具有有机化学意义的物种的性质和反应性。具体地说，将测试一些以亲核性、亲电性、反应性和催化性为中心的假设。一个目标是发展底物（包括n -杂环碳烯（NHCs））亲核和亲电性的气相尺度；第二个目标是深入了解NHCs催化重要合成反应的机理。这些研究最终将有助于氢活化、有机催化和合成过程的发展。这项工作将在本科生和研究生的教育方面产生社会影响，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生，以及发表增加基本化学理解的研究成果。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。

Professor Jeehiun Katherine Lee of the Department of Chemistry at Rutgers University will utilize funding provided by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division to explore organic reactivity and mechanism. One major focus will be on the complementary polarities of reactants in chemical reactions. This is commonly referred to as nucleophilicity ("seeking nuclei") or electrophilicity ("seeking electrons"). The nucleophilicity and electrophilicity of diverse reactants will be examined in the gas phase, with the ultimate goal of creating a scale to better understand fundamental reactivity. A second focus will be on reactions catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). NHCs are novel organic substances, which have been shown to act as catalysts for a broad range of important synthetic reactions. Mechanisms for these reactions are poorly understood. In both aims, chemical reactions will be studied through a combination of computational models and experiments. Experimental studies are carried out in the gas phase, using a mass spectrometer. The absence of solvent allows for inherent reactivity to be revealed. This project has the potential to establish reactivity patterns for a wide range of organic species and improve the utility of NHCs as catalysts in chemical synthesis. Improved synthetic methods in turn impact many areas of chemistry, including making pharmaceuticals and other useful chemicals. These fundamental mechanistic studies also provide educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate scientists. The project provides mentoring and training for groups underrepresented in science as well.Gas phase experimental (mass spectrometric) and computational (quantum mechanical) methods are used to interrogate the properties and reactivities of species of organochemical significance. Specifically, a number of hypotheses centered on nucleophilicity, electrophilicity, reactivity, and catalysis will be tested. One objective is the development of a gas-phase scale for nucleophilicity and electrophilicity of substrates (including N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs)); the second objective is to gain insight into the mechanism by which NHCs catalyze synthetically important reactions. These studies will ultimately aid in the development of processes involving hydrogen activation, organocatalysis and synthesis. The work will have societal impact in terms of the education of undergraduate and graduate students, including students from underrepresented groups, and publication of research that increases fundamental chemical understanding.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.