Synthetic chemistry based on Rh(II)-carbenoid reactions and synthesis of alkaloids

对具有不同结构特征和功能的有机分子的需求日益增加，用于制造新材料、发现新药和用于制造精细化学品的化学工业。新的生物活性分子也可用作研究和理解生物化学过程的“工具”，这将对医学研究的进步产生重要影响。有些分子不是自然界产生的，有些分子在自然界中只存在少量。从自然界中提取这些化合物会对我们的环境和生态系统产生负面影响。有机合成提供了一种方法，使这些分子可用，并在足够的数量，使他们的（生物）化学和物理性能的研究可以进行。拟议的研究涉及设计、研究和开发新方法和催化剂，用于从简单的有机结构单元制备新化合物。这些研究的最终目标是开发可用于合成具有医学重要性的生物活性化合物的实用方法。抗癌、降压、抗炎等新药的开发有利于社会健康。拟议研究的结果将有助于化学科学的知识基础和化学合成的进步。后者在加拿大的化学和制药行业以及加拿大的经济中发挥着至关重要的作用。我的研究计划的另一个重要方面是研究生和本科生的科学探究和研究方法的培训，这有助于确保加拿大具有在全球经济中竞争的技术优势。

There is an increasing demand for organic molecules with diverse structural features and functionality for use in the manufacturing of new materials, in the discovery of new medicines and in the chemical industry for the manufacture of fine chemicals. Novel bioactive molecules are also useful as "tools" for studying and understanding biochemical processes, which would have important implications in the advancement of medical research. Some of the molecules are not made by nature and others that occur in nature are only available in small amounts. Extracting such compounds from nature can have negative impacts on our environment and the ecosystem. Organic synthesis provides a way for making these molecules available and in sufficient quantities so that studies on their (bio)chemical and physical properties can be conducted. The proposed research is concerned with the design, study and development of new methods and catalysts for making of new compounds from simple organic building blocks. The ultimate goal in these studies is to develop practical methods that can be used for the synthesis of medicinally important, biologically active compounds. New drugs, such as anticancer, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory drugs, can benefit health of society. The results from the proposed studies will contribute to the knowledge base in the chemical sciences and to the advancement in chemical synthesis. The latter plays a vital role in the chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors in Canada and hence the economy of Canada. Another important aspect of my research program is the training of graduates and undergraduates in the methodology of scientific inquiry and research, which helps ensure that Canada has the technological edge to compete in the global economy.