The focus of this research is the development of methodology for chiral molecule synthesis. Reactions of prochiral free radicals involving radical-radical coupling of persistent radicals with transient radicals will be examined. With this award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. Rebecca Braslau, a young investigator, in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Using free radical chemistry, Professor Braslau will focus her work on the development of synthetic methodology for the preparation of optically active compounds.
