Research Projects

The proposed research aims to develop efficient, asymmetric copper(I)-catalyzed enantioselective methodologies for constructing nitrogen-, oxygen-, and sulfur-containing spiro and fused heterocycles. These heterocycles are important scaffolds found in various pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds. Among different transition metals, copper offers a unique combination of low cost and high functional group tolerance. Our focus is on the asymmetric desymmetrization of chiral or meso-cyclohexadienones to generate tetracyclic fused scaffolds. We will also employ Kinugasa-type cascade reactions between nitrones and alkynes under Cu(I)/base conditions to construct enantioenriched β-lactam scaffolds. In addition, we plan to explore several other transformations, such as Cu–H mediated asymmetric hydrofunctionalization of olefins and alkynes through the in-situ generation of Cu–H or Cu–B species, which will yield atroposelective biaryls and chiral thioethers. Furthermore, we will investigate a dual Cu(I)/Pd(0) catalytic approach to enable enantioselective difunctionalization of alkenes via transmetalation. This method provides a flexible route for C–C bond construction, leading to products with high enantioselectivity and structural complexity. Overall, this research aims to establish versatile, practical, and stereoselective synthetic routes using copper catalysis as a sustainable catalyst for diverse heterocyclic architectures in modern enantioselective synthesis.