Asymmetric Catalysis
Our research on asymmetric catalysis develops and investigates asymmetric catalytic reactions that apply to the pharmaceutical, flavouring, fragrance, and agrochemical industries. This research is ideally suited for graduate students interested in organotransition metal chemistry and in asymmetric synthesis. Two types of catalyst systems are studied; homogeneous catalysis with dissolved catalysts and substrates, and heterogeneous catalysis carried out with highly reusable catalyst-organic frameworks. The catalyst-organic frameworks are prepared by a novel alternating ROMP assembly (ROMP is ring-opening olefin metathesis polymerization). The types of reactions being studied include (but are not limited to) hydrogenations of ketones, anhydrides, esters, imides, and amides; cycloisomerizations of 1,6-enynes, Pauson-Kand [2+2+1] cylcoadditions, and Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.