With the support of the Organic Synthesis Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, Professor Tom Livinghouse, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Montana State University, is studying new ligands and reaction pathways for metal-templated synthesis. Professor Livinghouse explores the photopromoted Pauson-Khand reaction, with particular emphasis given to the elucidation of those factors which contribute to ligand control of the relative and absolute stereochemical outcome of ring formation. He is also developing catalytic uses of cobalt complexes for the stereocontrolled synthesis of methano PGI1 and megellaneone. Synthesis of new C-chiral diphosphines containing conformational restriction elements as well as an array of structurally differentiated P-chiral diphosphines is followed by evaluation of these prospective controller ligands in asymmetric bond forming reactions. The design and synthesis of a new class of enantiomerically pure C2-symmetric bis(cyclopentadiene) controller ligands for early d-block metals is also under investigation. Many of the organic molecules demonstrated or expected to display important physiological activity have the unique property of having different chemical properties from their mirror images. Although compounds of this sort can not infrequently be obtained by separation techniques, many such processes are inefficient in terms of time and their reliance on the use of additional quantities of chemical reagents and solvents. As a result, development of methods for the control of the three-dimensional structure (stereochemistry) of organic molecules remains an important goal. Professor Tom Livinghouse, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Montana State University, is developing such methods with the support of the Organic Synthesis Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate. His investigations focus on the design and synthesis of new groups which introduce stereochemical control elements into reactions mediated by various metal-containing compounds. These studies help to elucidate certain factors critical to the design of successful catalysts for `asymmetric` synthesis and additionally offer access to specific target molecules, including a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in plasma.
