Implementing Cationic Paths in Aliphatic C-H Oxidation

Finding new reaction paths and establishing new frontiers in C-H bond oxidation represent breakthroughs in organic chemistry. Going beyond preliminary findings discovered by the fellow Dr.

Marco Galeotti, this project will focus on the unprecedented implementation of cationic paths in C-H bond oxidation, diverging from the ubiquitous radical paths.

The proposed objective represents a change of paradigm in C-H functionalization from a mechanistic perspective and in a broad perspective in organic chemistry, because it will deliver a novel methodology to access unique and intriguing cyclobutane structures by single-step functionalization of aliphatic C-H bonds.

These transformations will be carried with a view to sustainability through the employment of earth abundant 3d catalysts and an eco-friendly oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide.

This proposal will benefit from the accumulated wealth of experience of Marco Galeotti in organic chemistry and in the mechanistic aspects of the factors governing reactivity and selectivity on aliphatic C-H bond functionalizations. This, in combination with the supervision of Prof.

Miquel Costas, an internationally recognized expert in the chemistry of biologically inspired oxidation catalysis applied to organic chemistry, will offer the possibility to uncover valuable mechanistic insights of this new oxygenation pathway.

The proposed project will represent a milestone in synthetic organic chemistry because it will deliver a wide variety of stereo- and enantioselective four-membered carbocycles in the oxidation of cyclopropyl derivatives for a broad spectrum of aliphatic C-H bonds.

This transformation will be also applied in late-stage C(sp3)-H diversification of natural product and pharmaceutical, by placing this proposal in the realm of society-changing outcomes.