# Innovative Tools for Chemical Synthesis: Metal-Hydride Catalysis, Medicinal Motifs, and Molecular Probes

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2024 · $84,062

## Abstract

Project Summary
Research and training in organic synthesis impacts all fields of science that require the design and construction
of molecular architecture. This project will advance catalytic methods, including hydroacylation and
hydroamination, as attractive and powerful tools for chemical synthesis. The coupling methods proposed are
modern and innovative because they rely on common functional groups (e.g., aldehydes, amines) to generate
new carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds from unsaturated partners (e.g., styrenes, dienes,
cyclopropenes), with high selectivity and atom economy. Through experimental and theoretical studies, this
project will yield fundamental insights into the mechanism of various transition metal catalysts, including rhodium,
cobalt, and copper. Beyond catalysis and mechanistic studies, we plan to build chemical motifs of high
significance to the field of drug discovery. We target privileged motifs (e.g., chiral nitrogen-containing
heterocycles) and explore chemical space (e.g., tricyclic cages bearing high sp3 character). Through
partnerships with experts in other fields, we address exciting challenges in fluorescent microscopy, NMR
spectroscopy, and cancer immunotherapy by designing functional molecules. This project demonstrates
innovation in making molecules at the interface of catalysis, medicinal chemistry, and biology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11167029
- **Project number:** 3R35GM127071-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Vy M Dong
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $84,062
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11167029

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11167029, Innovative Tools for Chemical Synthesis: Metal-Hydride Catalysis, Medicinal Motifs, and Molecular Probes (3R35GM127071-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11167029. Licensed CC0.

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