Ligand-Driven C–H Activation: Sustainable Catalysis by Design

Ziel

Arenes are ubiquitous structural motifs, indispensable to the development of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. However, selectively functionalizing their C(sp2)–H bonds in a general manner remains a central challenge. While the merger of radical chemistry with transition-metal catalysis has revolutionized synthesis, applying this powerful synergy to undirected arene activation has proven exceptionally difficult. A general method does not exist.
This proposal aims to overcome this barrier by developing a novel ligand platform that establishes the first general method for nickel-catalyzed, undirected C(sp2)–H functionalization. By harnessing nickel’s unique open-shell character, this strategy will pioneer the general merger of radical pathways with undirected C(sp2)–H activation, a currently undiscovered approach. This paradigm shift will enable broadly applicable synthetic transformations to forge C–C and C–heteroatom bonds, bypassing traditional limitations.
Three integrated goals will guide this work:
1. Catalyst Development: Building a novel and modular ligand library to systematically identify optimal frameworks for undirected arene C–H activation.
2. Mechanistic Elucidation: Characterizing key Ni intermediates to understand their stability and reactivity, guiding the iterative design of more robust catalysts.
3. Method Development: Creating novel synthetic methods by merging photochemical and electrochemical techniques with Ni catalysis, opening unexplored pathways for arene functionalization with direct pharmaceutical applications.
The fundamental ligand architectures developed here are also poised to impact other challenging ligand-assisted reactions beyond C–H activation. Together, this project will deliver a transformative ligand platform that unlocks elusive mechanistic pathways in nickel catalysis, enabling broadly useful and sustainable synthetic transformations.

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