PhD position in organic chemistry: Regioselective strategies for the multiformation of C-C bond through metallotropic rearrangement and valorisation of CO2.

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Vand uvre les Nancy, LORRAINE
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 30 Apr 2024

13 Mar 2024
Job Information
Organisation/Company

L2CM/Université de Lorraine
Research Field

Chemistry » Organic chemistry
Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country

France
Application Deadline

30 Apr 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Hours Per Week

35
Offer Starting Date

1 Oct 2024
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Context:

Historically, academic research efforts in organic synthesis have always been directed towards the development of reactions leading to the selective formation of only one carbon-carbon bond in a predictive manner. Since organic structures of interest for fine chemistry and pharmacy are usually strongly different from commercially available compounds, this philosophy inevitably results in proposing time-consuming multi-step synthetic sequences to reach the desired molecular targets. As these targets are obtained at the cost of titanic efforts and in tiny amounts, the relative synthetic approaches are often inadequate for the industry.  This is why a growing number of synthetic chemists are focusing on the development of reaction processes allowing the one-pot formation of several carbon-carbon bonds without the need of usual intermediary treatment and purification operations. This is in line with the concept of “pot-economy”1 which enables to approach the ‘ideal synthesis’ when associated with the use of abundant, biocompatible and/or renewable resources. We reckon that a strategy based on the concept of “remote functionalisation through internal induction”2 would offer the pot-economy concept a new dimension. Although seldom highlighted, the former enables to regioselectively generate several C-C bonds at distant sites if creatively implemented.3 As it were, it becomes possible to reach the molecular complexity from the simplicity in a record time.

Research objectives:

Recently, we have disclosed an original example of consecutive reactions based on the concept of remote functionalisation ‘through internal induction’ using para-iodobenzyl mesylate as substrate.4 Moreover, the reported methodology required a combination of abundant metals as a unique reagent (a lithium organozincate,5 (R1 )3 ZnLi) and a bio-sourced solvent which was identified as a promoter of all elementary steps of the reported reaction sequence. Our synthetic tactic allows the regioselective formation of two C-C bonds, namely a C(sp3 )-C(Sp2 ) and a C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) bond at sites distant by 5 atoms in a single operation. The project entrusted to the PhD candidate will be the brand-new extension of this remote transformation to halogenated heterocycles possessing a benzylic leaving group. Two or even three new C-C bonds should be formed, including at a non preactivated site, in single process and using only one reagent. Thereafter, he will develop the first asymmetric versions of this transformation. Finally, the products resulting from the previously developed synthetic sequence will be functionalized by incorporation of a CO2 or CO molecule in order to access added-value molecules. Abundant metal-based catalytic/photocatalytic processes will be used in this regard.7

References:

(a) Y. Hayashi, Chem. Sci.2016, 7, 866−880. DOI : 10.1039/C5SC02913A  ; (b) N. J. Green, M. S. Sherburn, Aust. J. Chem.2013, 66, 267–283. DOI : 10.1071/CH13003 .

A. Vasseur, J. Bruffaerts, I. Marek, Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 209–219. DOI : 10.1038/nchem.2445

A. Vasseur, I. Marek, Nat. Protoc.2017, 12, 74–87. DOI : 10.1038/nprot.2016.161

(a) A. Pierret, C. Denhez, P. C. Gros, A. Vasseur, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2022, 364, 3805–3816. DOI:    10.1002/adsc.202200475  ; (b) Premier volet mécanistique, voir : A. Pierret, C. Lefebvre, P. C. Gros, C. Denhez, A. Vasseur, Eur. J. Org. Chem.2023, 26, e202300954. DOI : 10.1002/ejoc.202300954

Pour une revue sur la réactivité des organozincates de lithium en synthèse organique, voir : M. Uchiyama, C. Wang, Top. Curr. Organomet. Chem. 2014, 47, 159–202. DOI : 10.1007/3418_2013_72

Exemple de stratégie pour une fonctionnalisation sur position non péactivée de ce type de substrat, voir R. Gaertner, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1951, 73, 3934–3937. DOI : 10.1021/ja01152a112

(a) X. Yan, L. Fan, X. Zhang, G. Liu, Org. Chem. Front.2022, 9, 6749–676. DOI : 10.1039/D2QO01419J ; (b) S. Wang, P. Xu, X. Zhu, ChemCatChem2023, 15, e202300695. DOI : 10.1002/cctc.202300695


Requirements
Research Field
Chemistry » Organic chemistry
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The PhD candidate must hold a master degree in organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry or catalysis with a good average grade (at least 12 out of 20). He must be familiar with the usual treatment and purification techniques for organic compounds as well as the typical characterisation tools (NMR, IR, HRMS).


Specific Requirements

Application must be sent to Dr. Alexandre VASSEUR, ([email protected] ) and Pr. Jr. Ibrahim ABDELLAH ([email protected] ) and must include a letter of motivation, a resume, the transcripts of his/her master degree (first and second year) and a letter of recommendation from his/her placement supervisor.


Level
Good

Research Field
Chemistry » Organic chemistry
Years of Research Experience
None

Additional Information
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
University of Lorraine, L2CM UMR CNRS 7053
Country
France
State/Province
Grand Est
City
Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy
Postal Code
54500
Street
Boulevard des aiguillettes
Geofield


Where to apply
E-mail

[email protected]

Contact
City

Vandoeuvre les Nancy
Website

http://www.l2cm.univ-lorraine.fr/l2cm/?page_id=53&amp%3Bcategorie_actualites=all
Street

Bvd des Aiguillettes
Postal Code

54506
E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED