Cristina Diaz ’25
Synthesis of a bidentate B-carboline derived ligand for asymmetric catalysis
Cristina Diaz ’25, Chemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Seann Mulcahy, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Poster Presentation: Wednesday, April 24, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Chiral compounds can elicit distinct biological responses, highlighting interest in selective enantiomer synthesis. Atropisomerism through restricted bond rotation provides opportunities to isolate stable three-dimensional arrangements. Ortho-substituted biaryls give high rotation barriers, generating distinct atropisomers useful as asymmetric catalysts. We aim to synthesize beta-carboline ligands exhibiting conformational chirality using cross-coupling methodology to install a diphenylphosphino group. This will restrict rotation to enable atropisomer isolation while allowing metal binding. Developing these bidentate ligands could enable applications in asymmetric catalysis. If stable chiral biaryl axes result, enantiopure ligands may interact preferentially with catalyst targets.
