1. Transition metal-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions incorporating carbon dioxide under mild conditions
George E. Greco, Department of Chemistry, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD 21204
Importance of this project
Carbon Dioxide is an inexpensive and abundant source of carbon
Offers alternative to using petroleum for synthesis (Petroleum is currently the ultimate starting material for nearly all organic molecules and its supply is finite)
On an industrial scale, using CO2 in synthesis would provide a way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and reduce global warming
Pd-TMM Complex
Key intermediate
Key Results:
Parent substrate
Methylated substrates
5-membered ring lactones (which are important motifs in natural products and pharmaceuticals) have been prepared from carbon dioxide and a 4-carbon substrate. This reaction is unique in that it proceeds under mild conditions (1 atmosphere of CO2). When the substrate contains an extra methyl group, only one isomer is formed in each case.