Title: "Anionic Cascade Adventures: From Strained Rings to Atropisomers with Fun Discoveries Along the Way"

Jon T. Njardarson, University Distinguished Professor

University of Arizona, Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Host: Brett VanVeller

Abstract: In this seminar, I will discuss how earlier investigations led us into the dormant exciting area of asymmetric anionic-amino Cope chemistry, which we have been enjoying exploring.  As part of these efforts, we have addressed how to streamline synthesis and push the limits of this reaction platform sterically and electronically, which has revealed several new reactions and promising application avenues.  I will discuss how mechanistically different the anionic-amino Cope chemistry is from its anionic-oxy Cope variant and how we managed to navigate these differences.  Finally, I will share exciting unpublished results on how we have successfully leveraged this powerful new anionic cascade platform to form atropisomers selectively, as well as our approaches for rapidly construct complex important nitrogen heterocycles.