His PhD, entitled "Rh(III)-catalyzed annulations based on C-H activation. Sustainable synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles", is focused on the development of new synthetic methods which allow to reduce the steps required for chemical processes.
PhD Student Andrés Seoane Fernández has defended today his doctoral thesis entitled “Rh(III)-catalyzed annulations based on C-H activation. Sustainable synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles", supervised by CiQUS researchers José Luis Mascareñas and Moisés Gulías and focused on the development of new synthetic methods which allow to reduce the steps required for chemical processes and therefore decrease the quantity of waste produced, one of the main challenges of organic chemistry nowadays.
Within this goal, catalytic C-H bond functionalization reactions with transition metal complexes have begun to emerge as one of the most appealing alternatives. The use of the C-H activation techniques in combination with cycloaddition reactions allows the synthesis of cyclic systems in a very straightforward manner minimizing the generation of the waste produced.
In this thesis, with many published results in several prestigious journals such J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed or Chem. Science, the objective was to develop
new methods for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles using Rh(III) complexes as catalyst through a process of C-H activation and cycloaddition. Initially, the synthesis of bioactive tricyclic isoquinolines was achieved from benzamides and alkynes. Later the synthesis of benzoxepines, coumarines and spirocyclic systems was accomplish from readily available ortho-alkenylphenols and alkynes or carbon monoxide as partners. Finally the preparation of naphthylamides was carried out starting from simple anilines and alkynes using similar methodologies based on the use of a Rh(III) complex for catalyze a process of C-H activation and cycloaddition.
