# Electrochemistry as an enabling tool for reaction discovery

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $72,153

## Abstract

Project Summary
This proposal focuses on using electrochemistry as an unconventional tool to uncover new organic
reactions and invent synthetic strategies with the goal of facilitating the preparation of bioactive
compounds. Improving the organic synthesis of medicinally active compounds is crucial to modern
biomedical research. In this context, oxidation and reduction reactions are among the most important and
frequently used processes in organic synthesis. However, manipulating the oxidation states of functional
groups in complex settings with high efficiency, precision, and minimal waste remains an important
challenge in modern organic chemistry. Given its many distinct characteristics, electrochemistry
represents an attractive approach to discovering new reactivities, enabling new synthetic strategies, and
meeting the prevailing trends in organic synthesis. Therefore, there exists a clear impetus for the
invention of new reaction strategies to improve the scope of synthetic electrochemistry and provide new
platforms for reaction discovery and synthetic innovations. In the past funding period, we demonstrated
a new catalytic approach that combines electrochemistry and redox-metal catalysis for the oxidative
difunctionalization of alkenes to access a diverse array of highly functionalized structures. These
promising results led us to envision that electrochemistry will ultimately emerge as a powerful tool for
solving a wide range of longstanding synthetic problems. In the new funding cycle, we aim to build upon
our previous success but move our research into new grounds. In each of the projects targeted herein,
we aim to apply electrochemistry to address a prominent challenge in organic synthesis. The
transformations targeted in this grant are either currently unknown or display salient limitations in reaction
scope or selectivity. Among the specific reactions that we aim to develop in the context of this grant are:
two- and three-component cross-electrophile couplings; asymmetric synthesis and late-stage
functionalization of N-containing compounds; and regioselective C–H functionalization of pyridines. In
addition, in-depth studies using canonical physical organic and electroanalytical techniques will provide
insights into the reaction mechanisms. The development and mechanistic understanding of these
proposed transformations will represent significant advances for the field of organic synthesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11100526
- **Project number:** 3R01GM130928-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Song Lin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $72,153
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11100526

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11100526, Electrochemistry as an enabling tool for reaction discovery (3R01GM130928-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11100526. Licensed CC0.

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