A fundamental challenge that we as synthetic chemists face in the 21st century is to address the global energy problem by significantly raising efficiency to build molecules. The key to reach this goal is to seek new principles that significantly simplify available transformations. As a step forward, we set our primary research focus on the discovery of highly selective (chemo-, regio- and enantio-), sustainable, and robust oxidative transformations. Why oxidations? In general, oxidations are inherently value-adding reactions and yet the least developed among known reactions – many involve toxic or undesirable reagents that degrades their efficiencies. Thus, we believe innovation in oxidative transformations substantially impact the general field of organic synthesis.
Some topics of our interest are:
(1) Enantioselective aminoxy-radical catalyzed oxidation.
(2) Oxidation assisted by electron-transfer agents (“Biomimetic” oxidations).
(3) Oxidative decarboxylative functionalization.
(4) A conceptually new dynamic kinetic resolution.
(5) Oxidative amidation.
In addition, we will seek opportunities for new synthetic strategies in the general area of chemical synthesis that enable rapid access to molecules with interesting (biological, structural or physical) properties. Ultimately, we aim to reach efficient and innovative synthetic routes to approach target compounds with new principles which enable the preparation of other structurally unique targets.