报告人：李慧明 教授 (香港浸会大学)

Asymmetric organocatalysis, the uses of small chiral organic molecules to catalyze enantioselective transformations, is a rapidly expanding research field during the past decade. While majority of the Lewis base organocatalysts are either primary or secondary amines, we have demonstrated that hydrazine is a new functionality for organocatalysis. Camphor Sulfonyl Hydrazines (CaSH I and CaSH II) are effective catalysts for enantioselective Diels-Alder, aza-Michael addition and indole alkylation reactions of both aldehydes and ketones.

In addition, sulfonimide was also introduced as a new functionality for Brønsted acid organocatalysis. With estimated pKa value of -4, Chiral Sulfonimides (CSI) are effective catalysts for enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles.