9314076 Jung This three-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in organic synthesis chemistry between Michael E. Jung, University of California, Los Angeles, and Alex Alexakis, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France. The objective of their research is to study asymmetric induction of homochiral ketals and aminals in various cyclization reactions. They will determine the utility of these chemical processes in organic synthesis, namely whether these cyclizations proceed well enough to be generally useful in the synthesis of complex natural products in optically pure form. This project takes advantage of French expertise in chiral ketals and aminals in synthesis. This is complemented by the U.S. group's expertise in intramolecular cyclization reactions. This proposal will advances understanding of new techniques for organic synthesis and characterization. It may also form the basis for designed synthesis of natural products.
