Novel Radical Reactions for Selective Organic Synthesis

Metal catalysis is extensively used in the formation of C-C bonds, but in the last decade free-metal catalytic processes are also desirable, expecially from an environmental point of view. The project will focus on the development of selective radical reactions involving electron deficient nitroarenes as catalysts, and various organic anions involved in single-electron transfer (SET) processes. Tentatively the process will be developed into a general method for generating C centered radicals. Related to this field, addition to various vinylic species, radical cyclisation and tandem radical cyclisation will be directed to the synthesis of natural product moieties, where a high stereoselectiv ity degree is desirable. Investigations of factors influencing the stereochemistry of the process will be studied (e.g. Beckwith's rules). Another promising appolication of SET processes is for the formation of azo bonds, whose presence contributes to confer molecules special properties. Azo compounds have interesting pharmacological properties and are potential ligangds in metal complexes, so new easier synthetic approaches are of noteworthy interest. Synthesis of benzo(c)innolines, benzo(c,d)indazoles and biphenyldiazenes will be investigated. Subsequently synthesis of metal complexes and studies of their catalytic properties will be considered.