# Earth abundant catalysts as an enabling tool for organic synthesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $332,028

## Abstract

Project Summary
Transition metal-catalyzed reactions have revolutionized chemical synthesis as applied to the
preparation of bioactive molecules and drug compounds, yet new methods are needed to open new
molecular space and overcome the structural biases that arise from current methods. Earth-abundant
transition metals, by virtue of their increased ionicity in metal–carbon bonding and higher density of
states, offer distinct reactivity as compared to state-of-the-art precious metal catalysts. This proposal
describes a new approach to site selective C–H functionalization reactions that leverages the unique
properties of iron, cobalt and manganese to predictably distinguish subtle differences in the properties
of C–H bonds to achieve complementary selectivity to existing methods. By establishing and
articulating the general principles of this approach, these methods will enable retrosynthetic analyses
that will translate to rational design of new molecules outside the reach of current metal-catalyzed
reactions. Specifically, methods for the meta-selective functionalization of arenes are proposed as are
new routes for the selective elaboration of heterocycles that are commonly found in lead compounds. In
addition, methods are proposed to synthesize 1,3,5-trisubstiuted arene derivatives, a valuable structural
type that is been historically underexplored in drug discovery campaigns. Methods for the
chemoselective functionalization of C(sp3)–H bonds in the presence of C(sp2)–H sites are also
proposed that rely on the unique electronic properties of first-row transition metals supported by readily
prepared and modular redox-active ligands.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10752681
- **Project number:** 5R01GM121441-07
- **Recipient organization:** PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL J CHIRIK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $332,028
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10752681

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10752681, Earth abundant catalysts as an enabling tool for organic synthesis (5R01GM121441-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10752681. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*