Department of Chemistry

Visiting Speaker

Professor  M. Gagne

Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina

will present a seminar entitled:

Abstract:   

Late transition metal complexes can be converted into highly electrophilic species that maintain their "soft" Lewis acidic character. Such soft Lewis acids can be utilized to activate alkenes towards poly-ene cyclization reactions that utilize the cation-olefin reaction to construct polycyclic structures in a manner that is akin to sterol biosynthesis. This presentation will focus on dicationic Pt(II) catalysts, with an emphasis on synthesis, mechanism, and asymmetric catalysis.

Friday July 10, 2009 at 3:00 pm - SB 144