Project description
Asymmetric cycloboration for chiral building blocks
Organoborons are central to synthesis, particularly in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. While enantioenriched alkyl boronates are well established, stereodefined amine-boranes are underdeveloped despite being accessible. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CYCLOB project investigates the asymmetric cycloboration of homoallylic amine-boranes to create a new class of chiral cyclic amine-boranes as modular building blocks. This method uses a rhodium catalyst to bond boron and carbon atoms together, creating ring-shaped molecules with precise 3D structures (stereocontrol). These molecules can then be converted into specific amines, which are compounds highly valuable for making medicines. The aim is to understand how the chemical reactions work and use them to create new pharmaceutical building blocks.
Objective
Organoborons are cornerstone intermediates in synthesis, enabling key transformations like the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. While enantioenriched alkyl boronates are accessible through hydroboration and other methods, stereodefined amine-boranes are entirely absent from the synthetic toolbox. This is striking given their low-cost precursors and stability. Current strategies produce only linear and non-chiral amine-boranes.
This project will establish the first asymmetric cycloboration of homoallylic amine-boranes, unlocking a new class of chiral cyclic amine-boranes as stereodefined, modular building blocks. The transformation relies on [Rh(I)]-catalyzed B–H activation and intramolecular olefin insertion, delivering cyclic organoborons with precise stereocontrol. Crucially, the resulting products are chemically versatile and should undergo stereospecific oxidation and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, enabling direct conversion into γ-functionalized amines.
The methodology will be advanced through: (1) development and optimisation of enantioselective cycloboration with a diverse library of homoallylic amine-boranes, (2) mechanistic elucidation of B–H activation, migratory insertion, and reductive elimination steps through isotope labelling, ESI-MS, and DFT modelling, (3) exploration of scope across diverse amine and olefin substitution patterns, and (4) demonstration of synthetic utility in the preparation of pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds.
This approach introduces a new retrosynthetic paradigm, positioning amine-boranes as stereodefined chiral synthons. It opens avenues for asymmetric synthesis and expands the role of boron chemistry in high-value molecular synthesis.
Completion of this ambitious project at RWTH Aachen University will be supported by extensive mechanistic expertise, knowledge transfer, and dissemination activities, strongly enhancing the Researcher’s career trajectory toward independence in asymmetric catalysis and organoboron chemistry.
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 electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
52062 Aachen
Germany
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.