Topic: Advances in Asymmetric Catalysis for Synthesis

Speaker: Dr. Erick M.Carreira

Date: Monday, November 27, 2023

Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Venue: W201, Administration Building

Language: English

Abstract:

Keywords: catalysis; transition metal; enantioselectivity; chiral building blocks

The ability to readily access small-molecule building blocks at will has important consequences for the discovery and development of novel medicines and materials. It is particularly beneficial when the chemical methods are convenient while at the same time economically and environmentally tenable and sustainable. A focus of our research program at ETH-Zurich is the identification, study, and development of novel reactions and methods for the preparation of functionalized structures. We are especially interested in catalytic processes that are easily executed and utilize readily available starting materials. We will discuss several new reaction processes that provide ready access to a host of fundamentally versatile building blocks for synthesis. The presentation focuses on the unique reactivity of Ir-complexes with a novel phosphoramidite-olefin ligand as well as recent progress with earth-abundant metal catalysts.

Speaker Profile:

Professor Erick M. Carreira obtained his B.Sc. degree in 1984 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Ph.D. degree in 1990 from Harvard University under the supervision of Professor David Evans. Since 1998, he has been appointed Professor of Chemistry of the Institute of Organic Chemistry at ETH-Zürich, where his is currently Head of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences.

Professor Carreira has authored over 370 publications and 36 patents, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina). He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of J. Am. Chem. Soc.

Professor Carreira is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, such as The American Chemical Society Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry; The American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry; and Nobel Laureate Signature Award, just to name a few.

Together with colleagues at ETH-Zürich, Professor Carreira has co-founded three companies, namely Lipideon, SpiroChem, and Glycemicon. He is a consultant for companies in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.