Research Projects

The photo-redox strategy, known for its efficiency in water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, and solar cell material, has gained significant importance in synthetic transformations. A research project focuses on using mild, low energy light as a reagent in photo redox catalysis to enable bioactive heterocyclic motifs through intra/intra molecular oxidative coupling of in situ generated carbonyl derived radical intermediates (enolate/acyl) with heterocyclic substrates. The methodology begins with the optimization of photo oxidative coupling of in situ generated enolate, formed from carbonyl compounds with an alpha hydrogen and/or acyl radical derived from aldehydes via HAT with substituted indoles. The photooxidative coupling will be explored for various inter- and intramolecular radical annulation with carbon-centered radicals and varied heterocycles. Selected compounds from the library of nitrogen heterocycles will be screened for biological assays and photophysical properties. The strategy will be streamlined for targeted synthesis of biologically active molecules under photo redox coupling. The project covers various areas in modern synthesis, including C-H activation, photocatalysis, and radical chemistry. It will provide insight into the new umpolung reactivity of enolate/acyl radicals, which are known as perfect nucleophiles and/or electrophiles.