# Total Synthesis of Dodecahedrane via Carbon–Carbon Bond Forming Cascades

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $42,580

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The chemical synthesis of small molecules continues to be a vital area of research. Such efforts can lead
to the development of new and improved methods, provide access to interesting or important scaffolds, and
provide fundamental insight into reactivity and synthetic design that, in turn, can enable future research
endeavors. This proposal is focused on achieving the total synthesis of the complex molecule dodecahedrane
via the development of carbon–carbon bond forming reaction cascades. In Aim 1, a dimeric norbornyl scaffold
will be prepared and utilized in an olefin metathesis isomerization reaction. This endeavor will provide access to
a late-stage intermediate, while enabling the investigation and development of a unique variant of olefin
methathesis for the assembly of molecular complexity. In Aim 2, a symmetrical penta-ene substrate will be
synthesized and used in a unique and ambitious poly-ene cyclization, involving all five alkenes, to access
dodecahedrane in the final synthetic step.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10679420
- **Project number:** 1F31GM148017-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Luca McDermott Catena
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $42,580
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10679420

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10679420, Total Synthesis of Dodecahedrane via Carbon–Carbon Bond Forming Cascades (1F31GM148017-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10679420. Licensed CC0.

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