3. Carboxylic acids as substrates or synthetic equivalents to useful functional groups

 

One primary focus of our group is the development of straightforward synthetic transformations wherein carboxylic acids are used as the substrates. The carboxylic acids are activated via in situ metal mediated decarboxylation. The resulting intermediate species undergoes reaction with coupling reagents in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to allow for the construction of a new C–C and/or C–heteroatom bonds in atom and step-economic manner.

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Given the abundance of amide bonds in naturally occurring compounds, unveiling new strategies for the construction of amide bonds are of prime importance. We have accomplished amide synthesis by the decarboxylative transformation of an oxo-carboxylic acid with an amine via copper catalyzed radical-radical coupling.