# Innovative Tools for Chemical Synthesis: Cyclase-Inspired Catalysis, Shuttle Catalysis, and Tandem Catalysis

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2021 · $101,614

## Abstract

Principle Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle): Dong, Vy, M
 
Project Summary/Abstract:
 The synthesis and implementation of organometallic reagents and intermediates has become a
cornerstone in the formation of complex therapeutic agents. Thus, the development of novel methods for
accessing these intermediates in a simple and efficient manner has become a large focus of the synthetic
organic and organometallic community. Organozinc reagents have shown themselves to be a powerful tool in
complex organic synthesis in areas such as carbonyl addition, cross coupling reactions (Negeshi coupling),
and functionalization of alkenes and alkynes. As the need for these important nucleophiles becomes more
apparent, chemists have sought out ways to make them by efficient and sustainable methods. Previous work
by Knochel and Sato has shown that nickel and titanium catalysts can convert olefins to organozincs efficiently,
however their work does not impose stereochemical selectivity. Our goal, described herein, is to expand on the
use of titanium catalysis to generate organozincs in an enantiopure method using chiral titanium catalysts and
simple, unbiased olefins as starting materials. Following the formation of these stereochemically active
nucleophiles, we aim to couple them with carbon dioxide using chemistry similar to previous studies in the
Dong research group. Utilizing simple and readily available starting materials as well as more structurally
diverse catalysts and substrates to gain access to these species could improve access to organozinc
intermediates as well as their use in the synthesis of complex final products.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10371806
- **Project number:** 3R35GM127071-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Vy M Dong
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $101,614
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10371806

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10371806, Innovative Tools for Chemical Synthesis: Cyclase-Inspired Catalysis, Shuttle Catalysis, and Tandem Catalysis (3R35GM127071-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10371806. Licensed CC0.

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