The Daily Bulletin Archive

Please join the Chemistry Department for the first seminar of spring 2023, "Synthesis of Chiral Amines and Ethers Via Copper-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization," presented by Sherry R. Chemler, professor of chemistry at the University at Buffalo, on Thursday, February 23, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 176. 

Abstract
Chiral ether and amine derivatives are highly prevalent in bioactive small molecules including drugs. Catalytic asymmetric alkene difunctionalizations can enable the concise synthesis of valuable saturated heterocycles and related chiral amines and ethers. Considerations associated with this approach include control of regioselectivity as well as relative and absolute stereochemistry. Metrics associated with sustainability such as atom economy and use of readily available and abundant catalysts and reagents are considerations. Copper is an earth-abundant metal with considerable potential in alkene difunctionalization catalysis. The discovery and development of a class of polar/radical copper-catalyzed alkene difunctionalization reactions will be presented, including their application in the synthesis of bioactive small molecules. A brief overview of UB’s graduate chemistry program will also be presented.