Enantioselective, metal-catalyzed joining of alkyl pieces to build complex molecules
Official title: Metal-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of Alkyl Electrophiles
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11324196 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant exploring new copper/nickel-catalyzed methods to join alkyl pieces into larger, chiral organic molecules that could be useful in biomedical research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $967,370 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM145315-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324196 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are researchers and clinicians who rely on novel chemical methods to access biologically active compounds or drug candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients may not directly benefit unless the new methods translate into faster or cheaper drug development.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop catalytic methods that enable the formation of carbon–carbon, carbon–nitrogen, and carbon–oxygen bonds with high enantioselectivity. By turning alkyl electrophiles into reactive radicals through transition-metal catalysis, the work seeks broader substrate scope and better control over stereochemistry. The approach could provide easier access to medically relevant molecules and new classes of compounds. The research combines fundamental chemistry with potential applications in drug discovery and biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the methods could streamline the synthesis of biologically active compounds and lead to new molecules for biomedical research.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective substitutions can enable challenging bond formations, with growing success in related reactions.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Gregory C — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Fu, Gregory C
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.