New Strategies for the Synthesis of Complex, Polycyclic Molecules

有了这个奖项，化学系的化学合成项目正在支持密歇根大学的Corinna Schindler教授的研究，以开发合成天然分子的新策略，这些分子由于其生物活性而具有很大的前景。复杂多环结构的选择性合成仍然具有挑战性，因为目前大多数可用的方法都是针对简单的分子支架开发的。因此，更复杂的结构往往不能发生反应。所描述的研究旨在推进可持续的合成策略，依赖于对隐藏对称元素的识别或可见光光催化，以大大简化获得这些具有生物学重要性的理想化合物的途径。该研究重点是首席研究员教育计划的一个组成部分，该计划包括本科生和研究生的培训机会，包括大型入门科学课程和她的研究实验室，以及旨在吸引底特律小学女生、中学生和公众的外展项目，以激发和维持对科学研究的兴趣。Schindler教授的研究计划的首要目标是解决复杂系统中选择性碳-碳键形成的挑战。提出的研究将建立新的合成方法，使直接获得四类重要的复杂的，具有生物学重要性的多环分子。具体来说，将追求两个不同的目标：(i)建立和发展隐藏的对称元素，作为复杂分子合成的使能设计元素；（ii）推进可见光介导的[2+2]-环添加，以快速访问包含四元环的应变多环体系。总之，这些新策略有望（iii）能够合成理想的生物活性复合物，多环分子。所描述的目标旨在补充和推进现有的合成方法，以实现快速有效地获得具有生物重要性的碳环结构。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。

With this award, the Chemical Synthesis program of the Division of Chemistry is supporting the research of Professor Corinna Schindler at the University of Michigan to develop new strategies for the synthesis of naturally occurring molecules that hold great promise due to their biological activity. The selective synthesis of complex, polycyclic structures remains challenging as the majority of currently available methodologies have been developed for simple molecular scaffolds. Consequently, more complex structures often fail to react. The research described seeks to advance sustainable synthetic strategies relying on either the recognition of hidden symmetry elements or visible light photocatalysis to greatly simplify access to these desirable compounds of biological importance. This research focus is an integral component of the principal investigator’s educational plans which include training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, both in large introductory science classes and in her research laboratory, as well as outreach programs designed to engage Detroit elementary school girls, middle school students, and the general public to spark and sustain an interest in scientific research. The overarching goal of Professor Schindler’s research program is to address the challenge of selective carbon-carbon bond formation in complex systems. The studies proposed will establish new synthetic approaches to enable direct access to four classes of important complex, polycyclic molecules of biological importance. Specifically, two distinct objectives will be pursued that (i) build on and develop hidden symmetry elements as an enabling design element in complex molecule synthesis and (ii) advance visible light-mediated [2+2]-cycloadditions to rapidly access strained, polycyclic systems incorporating four-membered rings. Together, these new strategies are expected to (iii) enable the synthesis of desirable biologically active complex, polycyclic molecules. The objectives described seek to complement and advance currently existing synthetic methods to enable rapid and efficient access to carbocyclic structures of biological importance.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.