# Methods for Selective Organic Synthesis based on Ionic Catalysts

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2022 · $250,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
The major goal of this research program is to develop catalytic enantioselective
transformations based on transition metal and chiral anion catalysis that will be broadly
applicable to the preparation of therapeutically relevant organic molecules. Towards this
end, new reactions for the enantioselective construction of C-O, C-N and C-halogen
bonds are proposed. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of methods for
the selective introduction of fluorine and fluorine-containing functional groups.
Additionally, reactions that generate or employ available building blocks, such as
alkenes and boronic acids, will be targeted. These methods will leverage new catalyst
platforms, based on gold(III) complexes and phosphoric acid-based chiral anions, for the
construction of fluorinated building blocks and heterocycles Additionally, the
mechanistic underpinnings of these reactions will be studied, with a focus on
uncovering the role of non-covalent interactions in achieving selectivity. Thus, we
anticipate that this program will provide synthetic chemists and biomedical researchers
with additional tools (reactions, catalysts, ligands etc.) for molecular synthesis and for
single enantiomer construction, as well as provide principles for further development
and application.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10581216
- **Project number:** 3R35GM118190-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** F. Dean Toste
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $250,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-06-03 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10581216

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10581216, Methods for Selective Organic Synthesis based on Ionic Catalysts (3R35GM118190-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10581216. Licensed CC0.

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