Photoinduced Decarboxylative Phosphorylations

This proposed Fellowship brings together an Experienced Researcher from India (Ph.D. in Germany and Postdoc in Japan with an excellent academic and research background), with expertise in photocatalysis, methodology, and total synthesis, with an internationally recognized Host Laboratory in the UK under the expert supervision of Prof.

Varinder K. Aggarwal FRS.

His research interests focus on total synthesis, asymmetric synthesis, photoredox-driven processes, and the development of new reactivity in organic chemistry, in particular, boron chemistry.The successful realization of this highly interdisciplinary project will:➢Enhance European excellence in organic synthesis and catalysis, which are fundamentally important branches of chemistry.➢Enable the ER to acquire new skills in the field of organophosphorus chemistry, EDA complexes, metal-free reactions, and to develop new drug candidates in collaboration with a partner pharmaceutical company, which will expand his scientific knowledge and network.This proposed phosphorylation project is based on a new synthetic method recently developed in the host laboratory for photoinduced C-B bond formation under photocatalyst- and metal-free conditions.

The proposed methodology will access highly valuable α-aminophosphonic acids from feedstock α-amino carboxylic acids, through a decarboxylative phosphorylation process driven by visible light. α-Aminophosphonic acids are used as antibiotics, herbicides, antitumor agents, and enzyme inhibitors, with broad applications in many areas of agriculture and medicine.

To maximize the impact and application of the proposed decarboxylative phosphorylation in organic synthesis, enantioselective variants will also be developed to provide highly valuable enantioenriched α-aminophosphonic acids.

Initially, an auxiliary approach with a chiral phosphorylating reagent will be used, before the extension to an enantioselective catalytic process using a chiral Brønsted acid catalyst.