Nicole McNeil , PhD Candidate

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CHEMISTRY 603

ORGANIC SECTION

SPEAKER:             Nicole McNeil, PhD Candidate.

DATE:                     Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

TIME:                      12:30 pm.

PLACE:                  SB 324.

TITLE:                     Organocatalysis: Search for the Holy Grail.

ABSTRACT:           

Over the past decade a significant amount of research has been done in the hopes of finding the answer for the holy grail of organocatalysis. This holy grail is also known as the catalytic enantioselective α- alkylation of aldehydes. Although many methodologies for other types of α-derivatization have been developed, catalytic enantioselective α-alkylation remained an elusive task until 2008. The pursuit of the holy grail of organocatalysis, as well as recent progress since its discovery in 2008, will be highlighted.