Strategies for Selective Alkene and Arene Functionalizations

My laboratory explores new strategies to directly transform alkenes and arenes for streamlining bioactive small molecule synthesis. This seminar will cover three themes representative of our research program: 1) oxidative Rh(III)/(IV)/(II)-catalyzed C - H functionalization en-route to benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, an approach distinct from conventional Rh(III) catalysis; 2) synergistic Brønsted acid/Lewis acid catalyzed Friedel - Crafts alkylations enabling direct reactions with unactivated, non-benzylic/allylic/propargylic alcohols; 3) anchimeric assisted O-selective functionalization of underexplored oxenium ions.

Speaker: Kevin Kou, UC Riverside