Dr. Bowen Li

Prof. Marcos G. Suero

Asymmetric carbyne catalytic transfer to streamline synthesis of chiral β-amino carbonyls

Bowen has a strong background in organic synthetic chemistry and asymmetric catalytic chemistry, especially for the nickel-catalyzed asymmetric reactions. Advanced knowledge in synthesis, strategy design, mechanism studies and practical experience handling diverse technical laboratory equipment: NMR, GC-MS and HPLC. Experience of oral presentations, writing research reports and scientific papers. He is also good at continuous learning and summary, never stick to conventions, and has a strong sense of innovation. He has the ability to provide creative solutions to many research problems in challenging projects.

ICIQ profile

From 01/01/2025 to

31/12/2026

Chiral-Beta

Chiral-Beta aims to develop an innovative technology to rapidly construct chiral β-amino carbonyl derivatives with feedstock and fine alkenes as well as with complex drug molecules/natural products based on a Rh-catalyzed asymmetric carbyne transfer platform. A key strength of this conceptually new and multidisciplinary proposal is the introduction of a secondment phase in Novartis (Basel) to explore real-life applications.

Various biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals contain a chiral β-amino carbonyl, a molecule containing carbon connected to an amino group and a carbonyl group. The carbon atom bonded to the amino group is asymmetric or chiral, influencing the chemical and biological properties of the compounds. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Chiral-Beta project aims to revolutionise the synthesis of chiral β-amino carbonyl derivatives, avoiding multistep manipulations and simplifying molecular synthesis. The project includes a secondment phase at a pharmaceutical company where real-life applications and further functionalisation strategies will be explored.

The chiral β-amino carbonyl is an important structural motif prevalent in natural products and therapeutic agents. Despite that many methodologies have been developed for their diastero- and enantioselective synthesis, most of these methods require multistep manipulations with pre-functionalized substrates that fail to introduce the β-amino carbonyl moiety at the late-stage of complex molecule synthesis. Chiral-Beta aims to develop an innovative technology to rapidly construct chiral β-amino carbonyl derivatives with feedstock and fine alkenes as well as with complex drug molecules/natural products based on a Rh-catalyzed asymmetric carbyne transfer platform. A key strength of this conceptually new and multidisciplinary proposal is the introduction of a secondment phase in Novartis (Basel) to explore real-life applications. The ambitious action merges perfectly the expertise of the host in novel C-H and C–C bond functionalization strategies based on the catalytic generation of carbyne equivalents with the strong background of the applicant in metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions, thus enhancing two-way transfer of knowledge between the ER and the host group. This project will expose the fellow to a wide range of cutting-edge chemistry and biomedical sciences in an interdisciplinary and international environment (ICIQ, Novartis) and enable the fellow to become a leader for the next generation in the field of chemical synthesis and late-stage functionalization techniques.

 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement 101154411.