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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/J01320X/1
Title: Enantioselective Amine alpha-C-H Functionalisation via Copper/Chiral Anion Cooperative Catalysis
Principal Investigator: Watson, Professor AJB
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Pure and Applied Chemistry
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: First Grant - Revised 2009
Starts: 01 October 2012 Ends: 30 September 2013 Value (£): 96,898
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Chemical Synthetic Methodology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
18 Apr 2012 EPSRC Physical Sciences Chemistry - April 2012 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Many molecules possess a property that can be called 'handedness'. That is, they can exist in two forms that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other - like left and right hands. When a molecule has this property, it is said to be 'chiral' and the two mirror image forms are termed 'enantiomers'. Many important bioactive molecules possess this property and the number of such molecules is constantly increasing. One of the most significant implications of chiral drug molecules is that enantiomers can interact very differently with the body. For example, one enantiomer may elicit a beneficial therapeutic response while the other may be completely inactive or, in the worse case, cause life-threatening illnesses. As such, it is crucial that chemists are able to prepare chiral molecules in one pure enantiomeric form (whichever is desired), without contamination by the other.



'Amines' are a class of molecules that contain the element nitrogen and these, and their derivatives, represent some of the most commonly used and highly valued compounds within the chemical industry. Chiral amines, i.e. chiral compounds that display handedness at the nitrogen-bearing carbon atom, are molecules of exceptional importance within the chemical industry, and are present within many of the key molecular building blocks and final target compounds widely required within the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine chemicals industries.



The continued development of bioactive agents (for example, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals) and fine chemicals requires effective routes for the synthesis of chiral amines. Additionally, increasing environmental pressures dictate the requirement of "greener" strategies to replace out-dated and ineffective methods. The proposed research describes a novel approach to achieving this goal, ultimately leading to unprecedented access to these essential synthetic components using direct, catalytic, and clean technology based on a cooperative catalysis manifold.

Key Findings
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Summary
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Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk