Asymmetric carbyne catalytic transfer to streamline synthesis of chiral β-amino carbonyls

The chiral -amino carbonyl is an important structural motif prevalent in natural products and therapeutic agents.

Despite that many methodologies have been developed for their diastero- and enantioselective synthesis, most of these methods require multistep manipulations with pre-functionalized substrates that fail to introduce the -amino carbonyl moiety at the late-stage of complex molecule synthesis.

Chiral-Beta aims to develop an innovative technology to rapidly construct chiral -amino carbonyl derivatives with feedstock and fine alkenes as well as with complex drug molecules/natural products based on a Rh-catalyzed asymmetric carbyne transfer platform.

A key strength of this conceptually new and multidisciplinary proposal is the introduction of a secondment phase in Novartis (Basel) to explore real-life applications.

The ambitious action merges perfectly the expertise of the host in novel C-H and CC bond functionalization strategies based on the catalytic generation of carbyne equivalents with the strong background of the applicant in metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions, thus enhancing two-way transfer of knowledge between the ER and the host group.

This project will expose the fellow to a wide range of cutting-edge chemistry and biomedical sciences in an interdisciplinary and international environment (ICIQ, Novartis) and enable the fellow to become a leader for the next generation in the field of chemical synthesis and late-stage functionalization techniques.