Professor Sheryl L. Wiskur of the University South Carolina is supported by the Chemical Catalysis (CAT) Program in the Division of Chemistry to develop a research project with a focus on the asymmetric silylation of alcohols. Asymmetric derivatization with silyl groups will be employed to bring about the enrichment of one alcohol enantiomer over another via selective kinetic resolutions. These will lead to an increase in the enantiomeric excess of single enantiomers and ultimately highly enriched compounds in higher yields. Detailed studies are also proposed using NMR and circular dichroism to elucidate the mechanistic pathway of silylation-based kinetic resolutions and the origin of chiral induction. The proposed research is of fundamental and practical importance.
Chiral alcohols are common starting materials for a variety of chiral products. A facile synthetic procedure to obtain higher yields of single enantiomers will have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Students will be trained in organic and analytical chemistry skills to prepare them for academic, pharmaceutical and industrial chemical careers. Women and minority students will be coached to sharpen their scientific, leadership and management skills.
