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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S72214/01
Title: Stereochemically Well-Defined Ruthenium(II) Catalysts For Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation
Principal Investigator: Wills, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Warwick
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 July 2004 Ends: 31 December 2007 Value (£): 183,371
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Promising preliminary studies have served to identify a new class of stereochemically well-defined Ru(II)-based catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. Building upon group experience and literature precedent, these catalysts have been designed with a covalent linking group between a bidentate ligand (either aminoalcohol or monotosylated diamine) and a n-arene group. Two prototype molecules have been successfully prepared and demonstrated to be excellent catalysts. What is unique about these catalysts is that their well-defined structure provides an opportunity for their optimisation towards specific classes of ketone substrates. The programme of work in this proposal builds upon these preliminary results in four areas. Firstly, structural studies of the catalysts will be completed, including X-ray diffraction studies, kinetic measurements and studies of catalyst longevity under the reaction conditions, together with a series of tactical structural modifications. In the second section the structure of the catalyst will be modified such that the basis of enantiorecognition is switched from electronic to steric. The will permit all the advantages of transfer hydrogenation to be brought to bear on alkyl/alkyl ketones, which are currently elusive substrates. In section three an attempt will be made to build in specific substrate-recognition to the catalyst through hydrogen-bonding site. The final section will involve a study of imine reduction using the new catalysts.
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Organisation Website: http://www.warwick.ac.uk