The Synthetic Organic Program is funding the research of Dr. Theodore Cohen of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. The focus of the work will be to develop new synthetic organic reactions using alkoxide-carbanions and sulfur-containing carbenoid species. A major portion of the project involves the exploitation of the generation of beta-, gamma- and delta-lithioalkoxides by the treatment of epoxides, oxetanes and tetrahydrofurans, respectively, with aromatic radical-anions. A variety of synthetic methods for the preparation of oxygen heterocycles will be based on the use of these and related anions. Metallo derivatives of bis(phenyl)thioacetals that behave as carbenoids when present in molecules containing another anionic site will be used to prepare compounds containing 3- or 5-membered rings.
