Because a wide array of nitrogen-containing compounds exhibit bioactivity, the development of new methods for the formation of C-N bonds is a central challenge in organic chemistry. Furthermore, because the two mirror-image isomers (enantiomers) of a molecule generally have different biological activity due to the handedness of the molecules of life (e.g., peptides, DNA, RNA, and carbohydrates), there is a need in the biomedical community to efficiently generate compounds in stereoisomerically pure form. Finally, the development of catalyzed reactions is desirable, since they often offer advantages from the standpoints of efficiency/economy. This proposal is directed at addressing all three of these challenges, specifically, the discovery of new methods for the catalytic and enantioselective synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. In particular, the research plan describes the development of the first photoinduced, copper-catalyzed methods for the construction of C-N bonds. The coupling reactions are anticipated to proceed under unusually mild conditions, to have broad applicability for the generation of diverse families of nitrogen-containing compounds, and to proceed with good stereoselectivity (when applicable). Furthermore, the research plan describes mechanistic studies (e.g., stereochemical, mass spectrometry, fluorometry, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) that will provide insight into the unusual reaction pathway of these photoinduced, copper-catalyzed C-N bond-forming reactions, which likely proceed through a radical intermediate.

Public Health Relevance

The development of efficient new chemical processes has an impact on a wide array of disciplines that require the synthesis of organic compounds (e.g., biological chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and biology). Nitrogen-containing compounds have a high propensity to be bioactive (e.g., AbilifyTM, CrestorTM, CymbaltaTM, LipitorTM, NexiumTM, and PlavixTM); consequently, the discovery of novel approaches to the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds, which is the focus of this proposal, is an important endeavor for the biomedical community.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM109194-02
Application #
8848089
Study Section
Synthetic and Biological Chemistry B Study Section (SBCB)
Program Officer
Lees, Robert G
Project Start
2014-05-15
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2015-03-01
Budget End
2016-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$455,793
Indirect Cost
$170,403
Name
California Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
009584210
City
Pasadena
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91125
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Matier, Carson D; Schwaben, Jonas; Peters, Jonas C et al. (2017) Copper-Catalyzed Alkylation of Aliphatic Amines Induced by Visible Light. J Am Chem Soc 139:17707-17710
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Ahn, Jun Myun; Peters, Jonas C; Fu, Gregory C (2017) Design of a Photoredox Catalyst that Enables the Direct Synthesis of Carbamate-Protected Primary Amines via Photoinduced, Copper-Catalyzed N-Alkylation Reactions of Unactivated Secondary Halides. J Am Chem Soc 139:18101-18106
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