Developing new methods to create carbon-carbon bonds using light
Official title: Photocatalyzed and Enantioselective Umpolung C-C Bond Forming Reactions of Carbonyls
Funded at Occidental College · NIH-11043961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to create important chemical connections using light and safe materials, which could help in developing better drugs and other useful compounds for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Occidental College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $409,456 |
| NIH project number | 2R15GM137238-02A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals involved in pharmaceutical development or those with conditions that could be treated by new drug formulations derived from these chemical processes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to the development of new chemical synthesis methods may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating innovative methods for forming carbon-carbon bonds, which are essential in organic chemistry. It aims to utilize visible light and benign reagents to generate radical species from ketone-containing compounds, allowing for efficient and environmentally friendly chemical reactions. The approach involves photocatalytic electron transfer to facilitate these reactions, with specific goals including the generation of ketyl radicals and electrophilic radicals for various carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. Patients may benefit from advancements in drug development and synthesis of biologically relevant compounds resulting from these methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more efficient and sustainable methods for synthesizing important pharmaceutical compounds.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using visible light for carbon-carbon bond formation is innovative, similar methodologies in organic synthesis have shown promise in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Occidental College
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cannon, Jeffrey — Occidental College
- Study coordinator: Cannon, Jeffrey
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.