Project description
A novel process for the photocatalytic deracemisation of Amines
The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule is of fundamental importance to its function. Many molecules exist in two mirror-image forms of each other, called enantiomers. Different enantiomers of a pharmaceutical molecule have very different effects on a patient, and we therefore control for these forms in their preparation. Chemists often use methods to select only one enantiomer when making the molecule. This isn’t always possible, in which case a mixture of both enantiomers (a racemic mixture) must be separated - typically a wasteful process. The EU-funded PhotoDeRac project is developing a new method to convert a racemic mixture of important amine molecules to one enantiomer, called deracemisation. This process is driven by light energy, without generating lots of waste.
Objective
A method is proposed for the deracemisation of tertiary amines via the joint action of three distinct molecular catalysts - an Ir(III) photocatalyst, a chiral Brønsted base and a chiral thiol hydrogen-atom transfer additive. Through sequential visible-light driven electron transfer (ET), proton transfer (PT) and hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT), proximal stereocentres to amine functional groups can be selectively targeted for destruction of the undesired substrate enantiomer, and restored as the desired. An optical enrichment in the amine sample then builds over time, without other chemical change taking place. The two separate chiral catalysts work in tandem on two mechanistically distinct elementary steps, resulting in an amplification of asymmetric induction. Initial substrate activation is non-stereoselective, meaning that the total amount of substrate is capable of being processed, in stark contrast to typical chemical resolution methods. The method requires no stoichiometric reagents, produces no stoichiometric waste, is redox-neutral, and consumes only visible light photos. We believe this method will be of direct utility to the synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry communities, offering more efficient and more sustainable synthetic routes to target molecules, and going beyond the existing state-of-the-art. In the return phase of the project, the method is extended to the control of amine substrate diastereoisomers, in a tandem process involving C–N bond formation. Through appropriate catalyst selection we aim to develop complimentary methods to access either the thermodynamic or kinetic isomer – something difficult to achieve with existing epimerisation protocols. The concepts introduced here address fundamental questions of absolute and relative stereocontrol, retrosynthetic design, asymmetric autocatalysis and the utility of light as a driver of chemical change against a thermodynamic gradient, to achieve an out-of-equilibrium product distribution.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- medical and health sciences basic medicine medicinal chemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.