With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program, Professor Beak will elaborate the dynamic behavior of organolithium in organic transformations. The endocyclic restriction test methodology will be applied to a myriad of organic processes of importance to organic synthesis. By the use of this methodology, a better understanding of the transition state trajectories shall result. Thus, the improved use of this popular reagent should makes its application more efficient and predictable. Information about the ground states of a given reaction is relatively easily obtained. However, the same clear understanding of the transition states of reactions involving organolithium reagents is not known. Thus, this investigation will attempt to elaborate these states in order to help users of these reagents to employ them more efficiently. Moreover, new and basic physical organic methodologies shall be validated.
