# Transition Metal-Radical Hybrid Methods for Organic Synthesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · 2020 · $295,290

## Abstract

Project Description
The proposed program aims at the development of a new synthetic platform for controlled selective
functionalizations of aliphatic molecules possessing unreactive C(sp3)–H bonds. The existing synthetic
methods toward complex molecules and pharmaceuticals mostly rely on employment of pre-functionalized
substrates. Employment of non-functionilized saturated hydrocarbon groups is much more appealing as these
moieties are much more abundant and cheap. Moreover, the aliphatic C(sp3)–H bonds are often present in
complex biologically important molecules and pharmaceuticals, and thus their selective functionalization offers
a powerful tool for late stage modifications. The few existing methods for desaturation/functionalization of
saturated groups are not general, as the functionalization site is usually substrate-dependent. Also, these
methods operate under acidic conditions and/or employ external oxidants, which limits the substrate scope.
Thus, mild regio- and stereo-controlled desaturation/functionalization of saturated groups remains a holy grail
in modern synthetic chemistry. We propose the development of a novel catalytic methodology for
regiocontrolled, mild and external oxidant-free functionalizations of saturated groups. The site of
functionalization will be controlled by a designed tool-kit of temporary auxiliaries, which are easily installed onto
substrate and removed from the product. Based on a substantial amount of preliminary results obtained in our
lab, a successful development of this project is feasible. The proposed project consists of three major Sections:
1. Development of efficient catalytic systems for desaturation of aliphatic groups. 2. Development of a tool-kit
for general efficient and controlled proximal and remote desaturations of various organic molecules. 3.
Exploration of novel cascade reactions including C(sp3)–H functionalizations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9900019
- **Project number:** 5R01GM120281-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS
- **Principal Investigator:** VLADIMIR GEVORGYAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $295,290
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9900019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9900019, Transition Metal-Radical Hybrid Methods for Organic Synthesis (5R01GM120281-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9900019. Licensed CC0.

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