Chemistry Seminar on Radical Pathways for Alkene Functionalization
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
The seminar will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. in the Helen Lerner Amphitheater, Science and Technology Center, Seton Hall University. Refreshments are available at 5:30 p.m.
Alkenes are versatile functional groups that are employed in some of the most successful asymmetric catalytic transformations. We develop enantioselective 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization reactions of alkenes to access molecules with intricate substitution patterns while introducing stereocenters. The new methods can be readily applied to prepare molecules with important bio-activity, such as a,a,b-triarylated ethane scaffolds. The use of reducing conditions with alkyl and aryl halides as the coupling partners avoids stoichiometric organometallic reagents and tolerates a broad range of functional groups. Mechanistic studies reveal that Ni catalysts initiate radical formation and lead to unconventional enantio-determining steps.
Tianning Diao is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at New York University (NYU). She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2012 under the supervision of Prof. Shannon Stahl. After conducting her postdoctoral research with Prof. Paul Chirik at Princeton University, she joined the faculty of NYU in 2014. Her group addresses challenges in organic synthesis and sustainable energy research by developing new catalytic reactions. Rational catalyst design is based on a fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees with specializations in all areas of chemistry. Our unique research environment, including traditional full-time students and part-time students is designed to foster collaborations with industry and colleagues in other disciplines. The Rose Mercadante Seminar Series is named for Rose Mercadante, the departmental secretary for over 40 years, in honor of our alumni, her "boys and girls".
For further information, please contact Maureen Grutt at (973) 761-9414 or chemistry@shu.edu.
