Title: Selectivity Control in C–H Activation

Speaker: Prof. Lutz Ackermann, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany

Date/Time: 15:00-16:30 PM, Mar. 27, 2018 (Tues.)  

Location: Room 202, Lujiaxi Building

Abstract:

C–H activation has surfaced as a powerful platform in molecular synthesis, with transformative applications to material sciences and drug discovery, among others.In this context, we have introduced bifunctional bases, such as phosphinous acids and carboxylates, as additives for positional selective C–H arylations and alkylations with versatile ruthenium(II) complexes, displaying complementary selectivities as compared to palladium, nickel, cobalt, iron, copper or manganese catalysis.Detailed mechanistic insights into the working mode of the key C–H ruthenation step set the stage for ruthenium(II)-catalyzed twofold C–H functionalizations as well as step-economical oxidative alkyne annulations.The oxidative C–H functionalization strategy proved broadly applicable and enabled, among others, ruthenium(II)-catalyzed oxygenations, and nitrogenations, meta- and para-selective arene diversification. Likewise, late-stage peptide diversification and electrochemical C–H activations will be discussed.