CMS Group in SCI Publishes Breakthrough Research in Leading Chemistry Journal

Recently, Professor Xiaotai Wang's group from the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, in collaboration with Professor Hegui Gong's team from Shanghai University, published a groundbreaking study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society entitled "A Unified Approach to Chiral α-Aryl Ketones and Aldehydes via Ni-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling" (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c03418). XJTLU PhD student Lin Liu is the co-first author, and Professor Gong Hegui and Professor Wang Xiaotai are the co-corresponding authors.

The chiral α-aryl ketone and aldehyde are privileged structural motifs found in many drug molecules, such as antidepressants and anti-cancer drugs. However, traditional synthetic methods for these structures often face challenges such as low stereoselectivity and lengthy procedures. This study leveraged an innovative strategy of nickel-catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross-coupling, using common organic compounds as starting materials to cleverly construct a variety of stable chiral molecular precursors with high enantioselectivity. These precursors can be easily converted into target products, namely α-aryl ketones and aldehydes. In short, this pioneering study established a unified and efficient method for synthesizing chiral α-aryl ketones and aldehydes, demonstrating significant potential for applications in drug development and organic synthesis.

Utilizing density functional theory (DFT) computational modeling, Professor Wang and Lin Liu successfully elucidated the radical chain mechanism of this nickel-catalyzed reaction and revealed the origin of stereoselectivity. They found that the key step of this reaction is the combination of the acetal α-carbon radical and the nickel catalyst. This step not only controls the overall efficiency of the reaction, but also determines the stereoselectivity of the product. This important discovery provides guidance for the design and optimization of catalysts.

Professor Wang said: "The deep integration of experiments and theoretical calculations has become a notable trend in modern cutting-edge chemical research, especially in the field of catalysis. This approach facilitates the transition of chemical reaction design from being "experience-driven" to "computationally informed." Our team has long been dedicated to the computational modeling of transition metal-catalyzed organic reactions, offering valuable theoretical support and guidance to experimental researchers." He further pointed out that the team's work and expertise have been well recognized by leading experimental collaborators. Through collaboration, they aim to utilize Earth-abundant transition metals, such as nickel, to develop sustainable catalytic methods that enable more precise and efficient organic synthesis, thereby promoting the advancement of green chemistry.

Content:Professor Xiaotai Wang

Review:Professor John Moraros