Ming-Yu Ngai, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, will deliver a seminar entitled "Excited-State Catalysis in Organic Synthesis." Hosted by Marvin Parasram.
For more information about Min-Yu Ngai, click here.
Zoom Link: https://nyu.zoom.us/j/99702290444?pwd=LzUwZkJSTm00KzFTRldkZUdTNUkxUT09
Abstract: Our research program aims to develop new catalytic technologies for the rapid synthesis and late-stage functionalization of biorelevant molecules. Our research efforts have been directed to exploit visible-light-induced excited-state catalysis, a process that involves at least one photoexcited catalytic species, to address unmet challenges in organic synthesis. Excited-state catalysis involves the photoexcitation of catalytic organic or organometallic compounds that allows access to their excited-state landscapes for the development of previously elusive synthetic transformations. This seminar will cover our efforts in the development of (i) trifluoromethoxylating and difluoromethoxylating reagents that enables direct C-H tri- and difluoromethoxylation of aromatic compounds under mild conditions and (ii) C-2 selective functionalization of carbohydrates. Since fluorinated compounds and functionalized sugars are ubiquitous in natural products, therapeutics, imaging agents, fine chemicals, and biomaterials, I hope that our chemistry will allow convenient access to and the studies of numerous new functional molecules to aid the discovery and development of new drugs, agrochemicals, bio-probes, and polymers.