Enantioselective synthesis of carbon-rich materials
The design and synthesis of novel cationic ligands and their applications in π-acid catalysis is an ongoing topic of research in our group. Specifically, we were pioneers in the use of cationic phosphines in asymmetric catalysis, and have demonstrated that the Au(I) and Pt(II) catalysts thereof derived are excellent catalysts to assemble helicene architectures with high enantiometic excesses.
Sulfonium salts for late stage functionalization
The modes of reactivity of sulfonium salts show similarities to that observed in hypervalent I(III) species, which are reagents often used in late stage functionalization protocols. We work in the design of sulfur-based reagents that are able to replicate this reactivity. In addition, making use of the tools provided by (photo)catalysis, we aim to develop new protocols for the late stage functionalization of advanced synthetic intermediates.
Main group element-ligand cooperation
Being aware of the progress achieved in the catalysis arena by leveraging metal-ligand redox cooperativity, we recently hypothesized that the design of redox-active P-catalysts might also benefit from the use of this fundamentally different approach. Specifically, we recently showed the participation of P(V) centers in redox processes employing amidophenolate and bis(amidophenolate) ligands as electron reservoirs. At the moment we work on the design of other unprecedented redox-active organocatalysts, which may provide unreported reactivity.
