Directed Metal-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization

Ubiquitous C-C and C-H bonds are relatively inert chemical bonds. Chemical reactions usually take place with the aid of functional groups. If C-C and/or C-H bonds are activated and/or functionalized, a new area of chemical research will be opened. C-H bonds are only slightly polar relative to the purely covalent C-C bonds. Activation/functionalization of C-H bonds imposes a significant and pressing challenge to the scientific community. Recent advances in this science has shown that activation/functionalization of C-H bonds is possible using transition metals and with the aid of functional groups that direct the C-H breakage to take at a specific site regioselectively. These electron donating groups are described as directing groups. Directing groups allow formation of cyclometalated complexes with the metal by chelation assistance (chelates) and thus control the regiochemistry. Directing groups can contain one electron donor atom (monodentate directing groups) or two (bidentate directing groups). There has been significant developments in this area and it is still developing rapidly. The research project proposed herein, aims at developing new methods/strategies for the C-H activation/functionalization and developing novel bidentate and tridentate directing groups. General aims include investigating different transition metal catalysts with the existing monodentate directing groups, developing new monodentate directing groups, and developing new biodentate directing groups.