Research Projects

This proposal focuses on the development of novel synthetic strategies for constructing potential bioactive organic scaffolds via ortho-/meta-selective C(sp²)–H activation, including enantioselective, photocatalytic, and electrocatalytic approaches. The first part of the proposal involves the synthesis of a diverse array of molecular architectures, such as meta-substituted (E)-2-cyano-3-phenylallyl cinnamates (3 & 5), (E)-2-(bromomethyl)-3-phenylacrylonitriles (8), and 2-cyanophenyl 2-(hydroxy(phenyl)methyl) derivatives (10 & 11) by employing these methodologies. Additionally, we propose an efficient and elegant route for synthesizing ortho-substituted 2-(arylsulfinyl)pyridines (14) via enantioselective ortho-C–H activation/functionalization strategies. The second part of this proposal is dedicated to the synthesis of structurally diverse and potentially bioactive molecular frameworks via site-selective C–H activation strategies. This includes the development of efficient protocols for the meta-selective olefination of (E)-2-cyano-3-phenylallyl 2-phenylacetates (16), offering access to highly functionalized alkene-containing compounds. In addition, the synthesis of isoindolinone frameworks (19), which are privileged motifs in medicinal chemistry, will be explored through C–H functionalization strategies. We also propose the construction of ortho-substituted N-((2,5-dihydrooxazol-4-yl)methyl)cinnamamides (21), employing ortho-C–H activation for the site-selective introduction of functional groups adjacent to directing moieties. Furthermore, a photocatalytic C–H activation approach will be utilized for the regioselective synthesis of C5-alkenylated 2-aryl tetrahydroquinoline derivatives (24) from 2-arylquinolinones, providing access to novel heterocyclic structures with potential biological relevance. The final part of the proposal focuses on developing photocatalytic and electrocatalytic C–H activation strategies for the efficient construction of complex molecular scaffolds. Specifically, photocatalytic C(sp³)–H glycosylation of 2,2-dimethyl-1-(piperidin-1-yl)propan-1-one derivatives (27) will be explored to enable direct glycosylation under mild conditions. In addition, metal-electrocatalyzed C–H activation will be employed to synthesize ortho-coupled nitrile oxide-tethered phenylacetyl ester derivatives (30). Furthermore, Baylis–Hillman alcohols and [1,1'-binaphthalen]-2-ol derivatives will be utilized to access methyl 2-(1H-isochromen-1-yl)acrylates (33) and oxepine derivatives (36), respectively, via electrocatalytic C–H functionalization. These transformations offer sustainable and atom-economical routes to bioactive heterocycles. Furthermore, all of the proposed compounds are novel and new and will be characterized using NMR, Mass spectrometry, and HPLC techniques. The biological activities of the library of compounds will be examined and the activated molecule will be taken further for drug development.