This research focuses on two related areas. In one, the synthesis of furans and other five-membered ring aromatic heterocycles will be accomplished through the coupling of enyne-carbonyl compounds and Fischer carbene complexes. In the second, tandem cycloaromatization and remote functionalization will be carried out via the coupling of conjugated enediynes with carbene complexes. The compounds resulting from this approach are rich in functionality and a general synthetic method is thus offered that combines organometallic chemistry with radical chemistry.
With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. James W. Herndon of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at New Mexico State University. Professor Herndon will focus his work on developing new methodology for the preparation of substituted aromatic rings. The methodology and the resulting products are of potential interest to the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.
