Organocatalysis
This research area involves the development of new organocatalytic processes for the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules. Organocatalysts are low-molecular-weight compounds whose catalytic activity resides in the molecule itself and not in the presence of metals. Organocatalysts are usually readily available, robust, inexpensive, and non-toxic. These major features provide operationally simple routes to useful compounds such as biologically active molecules without generating any wasteful by-products. From a mechanistic point of view, common ability of many organocatalysts is to mimic the catalytic activity and selectivity of metal-free enzymes. It can be envisaged that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and steric interactions stabilize the transition states of organocatalyzed reactions in a similar but simplified fashion if compared to enzyme catalysis, leading, however, to comparable levels of stereoselectivity.
Goals
- Study of the parallelism organo/bio catalysis in the stereoselective formation of carbon-carbon bonds.
- New processes promoted by N-heterocyclic carbenes.
- Development of supported organocatalysts.
- Mechanistic investigations.
Instruments and Methods
Mass (MS) spectrometry and infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Elemental analysis. Chromatographic instruments.
Main Subjects
Organic chemistry; biochemistry.
Research Group
- Olga Bortolini
- Alessandro Massi
- Marco Fogagnolo
- Giancarlo Fantin
- Pier Paolo Giovannini
- Daniele Ragno
- Carmela De Risi
Collaborations
- Prof. D. Belder (University of Lipsia, Germany)
- Dr. P. Dambruoso (CNR-ISOF, Bologna)
- Prof. A. Mazzanti (University of Bologna)
