Research Projects

The envision of the current research proposal is to develop the synergistic NHC/Metal catalysis to explore the unprecedented reactivity of ?,beta-unsaturated aldehydes bearing leaving group at the gamma-carbon atom as well as of cyclobutenones with relatively inert electrophilic reacting partners by in situ generation of chiral NHC bound nucleophilic dienolate and metal activated reactive electrophilic intermediate. The reacting partners like 7-aza/oxa-norbornadiene derivatives, cyclopropanes, epoxides, aziridines will be activated by metal catalysts under reaction conditions to achieve [4+3] cycloadditions with chiral NHC bound dienolate for the asymmetric synthesis of seven-membered heterocycles, while alkenes, alkynes, allenes will be treated to pursue [4+2] cycloadditions for the asymmetric synthesis of six-membered carbocycles. Similarly, enantioselective gamma-heteroarylation of NHC-bound dienolate will be studied in presence of transition metal catalysts. Efforts will be devoted to the application of developed methodologies toward the asymmetric synthesis of relevant natural products and pharmaceutical agents. Further, detailed mechanistic investigations will be carried out to explore the possibility of new reactivities. Also, the research outcome will be published in peer-reviewed journals.