Use of monodentate ligands in the asymmetric ketone hydrogenation
PhD ceremony: Mr. B. Stegink, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Title: Use of monodentate ligands in the asymmetric ketone hydrogenation
Promotor(s): prof. J.G. de Vries, prof. B.L. Feringa, prof. A.J. Minnaart
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Many compounds which occur in nature are chiral. This means the compound can exist in two different forms, enantiomers, which are each others mirror image. Enantiomers are physically almost identical but their biological function can be completely different. For an organic chemist it is very important to be able to get one of these two enantiomers selectively in hand.
One of the methods for getting enantiomerically enriched compounds in hand is via asymmetric hydrogenation. During a hydrogenation a double bond within the molecule reacts, with the help of a catalyst, with a molecule of hydrogen gas, resulting in a single bond.
During my promotion research I focused on trying to find new catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of different types of ketones. The focus in this research was set on the use of, so called, monodentate ligands especially phosphoramidites. Monodentate ligands, and especially phosphoramidites, are much easier to synthesize compared to the normally used bidentate ligands. This easy synthesis makes them very suitable for fast screening increasing the change of finding a good performing catalyst drastically.
I was able to develop several ruthenium based catalysts baring one or two phosphoramidite ligands which are able to hydrogenate several types of ketones in high yield and excellent selectivities.
These methods could, in the future, be used in the synthesis of biologically active compounds for, for instance, the pharmaceutical industry.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.12 a.m. |
More news
-
29 November 2023
Three FSE researchers receive NWO XS grant
Three researchers of the Faculty of Science and Engineering have been awarded an ENW-XS grant by the Dutch Research Council (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijke Onderzoek, NWO): Prof. A.I. Guskov the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and...
-
29 November 2023
UG professor Jayawardhana appointed scientific director DISC
Bayu Jayawardhana has been appointed scientific director of DISC, the interuniversity research institute and graduate school that unites all university groups in the Netherlands that are active in systems and control theory and engineering. The...
-
23 November 2023
Two Major European grants for Groningen researchers
Researchers Clemens Mayer and Danny Incarnato of the University of Groningen have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant.