Catalytic-Reductive Defunctionalization and Deconstruction of Organic Molecules

Traditional organic synthesis focuses on molecular construction and the installation of functional groups.

In contrast, methods for the reversal of the synthetic direction, namely the controlled molecular deconstruction and selective defunctionalization of complex molecules, are much less investigated.

This project aims at the development of new titanium- and zirconium-catalyzed reactions for the catalyst-controlled scission of non-activated functional groups and alkyl groups, with the long-term goal of building up a toolbox for selective bond cleavages in mind.

The project is divided into two parts that are defined by the two metals and their complementary bond activation modes: A) titanium-catalyzed homolysis by single-electron-transfer and B) zirconium-catalyzed β-elimination.

In four work packages each, these two concepts will be explored, applied in synthesis, mechanistically investigated, and taken to the next level to realize highly challenging alkyl cleavage reactions.

This includes the development of asymmetric bond cleavages for the rapid preparation of enantiomerically enriched building blocks. Overall, this will unlock the tremendous potential of defunctionalizations and deconstructions for organic synthesis.

The envisioned use of benign solvents and reagents as well as mild reducing conditions will further render the approach attractive for potential applications in sustainable chemistry.