Application of Asymmetric [2+2] Photocycloadditions
Navn på bevillingshaver
Line Dahl Næsborg
Beløb
DKK 350,000
År
2018
Bevillingstype
Internationalisation Fellowships
Hvad?
New methods in synthetic chemistry is important so that the correct tools for making molecules become available. The methods serve as a toolbox to reach molecular targets and are used in a long list of industries. In this project, a focus has been devoted to light mediated reactions. Light activation allows us to perform cycloadditions that are forbidden using traditional activation. More specifically, the project concerns [2+2] photocycloadditions which are forbidden (according to the Woodward-Hoffmann rules) and become allowed using photo-activation, providing access to an array of molecular targets that are nearly impossible to reach in another way. The [2+2] photocycloadditions result in cyclobutanes, which are challenging scaffolds present in numerous natural product targets.
Hvorfor?
The [2+2] photocycloadditions result in cyclobutanes, which are challenging scaffolds present in numerous natural products and therefore, methods for generating these structures in a selective and efficient manner is important. Many bioactive cyclobutanes are chiral, as chirality becomes crucial for function inside a chiral environment such as the body. Therefore, more than half of the drugs in use today are chiral. Hence, the challenge of inducing chirality is important to accommodate the demands of medicinal chemistry. As such, methods based on asymmetric photocycloadditions providing chiral targets are key to accessing numerous bioactive natural products and drug leads.
Hvordan?
Professor Bach is one of the pioneers of [2+2] photocycloadditions. The knowledge within his research group concerning photocycloadditions is world-leading and therefore, this is the optimal place to carry out the research project. It is the ideal opportunity to obtain knowledge on the irreplaceable and powerful photocycloadditions. Additionally, I plan to use my background in asymmetric catalytic synthesis of chiral molecules to achieve an asymmetric version of the photocycloaddition.