Objective Chiral α-branched amines and their derivatives are commonplace in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and biologically relevant natural products. Accordingly, the development of new synthetically powerful methods for their synthesis, and/or further functionalisation, through new carbon-carbon bond forming processes is both important and timely from academic and industrial perspectives. Such chiral α-branched amine motifs can be accessed from electrophilic imine substrates, through direct addition of carbon-centered nucleophiles such as organometallic reagents and electron rich π-nucleophiles. This traditional approach takes advantage of the easy formation of imines and their natural polarity and has led to numerous developments over the years. Whilst nucleophilic addition reactions dominate the chemistry of imines, polarity reversal is possible but requires the careful design of imine precursors able to stabilise anionic intermediates following deprotonation. Free radical chemistry offers the possibility to reverse the polarity of imine derivatives; the formal addition of a hydrogen atom to the C=N π-bond can generate a nucleophilic α-amino radical able to react with alkenes and alkynes. However, to date these approaches have been limited by the way the radical is generated. Here we propose a new and broadly applicable ‘umpolung’ approach to access chiral α-branched amine motifs directly from imine substrates. Our plan is to design and develop a new reductive photochemical system that will allow the direct generation of ‘free’ nucleophilic α-amino radical species capable of undergoing a broad range of synthetically useful carbon-carbon bond forming processes. This non-classical umpolung strategy has a wealth of untapped synthetic potential and will allow the development of new modes of reactivity each in turn rendering new suites of synthetic methodologies including catalytic asymmetric versions. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic reactionsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryamines Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES OX1 2JD Oxford United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 183 454,80
