Coordinated arenes can serve as valuable synthons to a variety of mono-and polycyclic natural products when used in conjunction with an appropriate dihapto-coordination agent. In order to test and develop this hypothesis, the research program will address three primary questions: i) what organic transformations can be accomplished through such a technology that are difficult to achieve by conventional methods, ii) to what extent can the stereochemistry of such transformations be controlled by the transition metal, and iii) how can the nature of the complexing agent be modified to achieve a) greater activation of the aromatic substrate b) asymmetric induction, and c) a catalytic cycle for various target reactions? %%% With this award, the Organic Synthesis Program will support the research of Dr. W. Dean Harman at the University of Virginia. The research will develop the reactions of coordinated arene transition metal complexes to form substituted cyclic products which has the effect of shortening certain synthetic sequences. This new synthetic methodology should benefit research in biochemistry and medicine as well as in the chemical industry.
