Dr. Jacob Davies

Prof Rubén Martín

A Remote-carboxylation Strategy for Alcohols via a Dual-catalytic System

Jacob obtained his Masters Degree in Chemistry with Industrial Experience in 2014 at the University of Bristol, UK. His undergraduate thesis project was carried out under the excellent supervision of Dr. Daniele Leonori and encouraged by this experience, joined Dr. Leonori as he began his independent career at the University of Manchester. His studies targeted the generation of nitrogen centred radicals under mild, metal free conditions promoted by visible light. In 2018, after successfully defending his thesis, he started a postdoctorate position in the group of Prof. Ruben Martin at ICIQ, Tarragona. Following the groups’ main research line, he has been investigating novel synthetic methodology possibilities in CO2 valorisation. Outside the lab, he can most often be found in the beautiful mountains surrounding Tarragona, climbing, running or hiking. He feels very lucky for the opportunity to carry out his research at such a high level institute and that just happens to be situated in such a fantastic location.

ICIQ profile

From 01/03/2020 to

28/02/2022

ALCO2-FUNC - GA 884948

The ability to introduce functionality into molecules in a regio- and chemoselective selective manner is of primary importance
in the construction of high value molecular compounds but still remains a major challenge for synthetic chemists. The
utilization of functionalities present in readily available and inexpensive starting materials to direct the introduction of further
complexity is an attractive strategy which has become increasingly popular. Despite recent advances, the remotefunctionalization
of aliphatic alcohols still remains largely underdeveloped. Considering their prevalence in natural products,
compounds displaying important biological activities and chemical feedstocks, efforts to address this problem are deemed
necessary. ALCO2-FUNC will make use of an easily installed α bromo-silyl tether to direct functionalization at neighbouring
sites. The tether will partake in single electron transfer with a suitable nickel catalyst, initiating a directed radical rebound
cascade. The merger of (reductive) nickel catalysis with photoredox catalysis will exploit advantages of both disciplines,
enabling the development of a divergent strategy by careful control of key catalytic steps. Furthermore, carbon dioxide will
be utilized as a C1 synthon to provide a valuable carboxylation strategy. To such end, simple alcohols will be converted to
their β-carboxylated counterparts (via regioselective 1,5 hydrogen atom transfer) or remotely-carboxylated (following a nickel
chain-walking sequence). Taken together, the synergy between photoredox and nickel catalysis will be employed in ALCO2-
FUNC to develop novel synthetic strategies to access high value compounds from simple precursors. The proposed
methodology is expected to operate under mild conditions (room temperature, low-energy irradiation) increasing functional
group compatibility and setting the basis for the implementation in the late-stage functionalization of advanced
pharmaceuticals.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement 884948

The road to industrialization of fine chemical carboxylation reactions
Jacob Davies, Julien R. Lyonnet, Dmitry P. Zimin, RubenMartin
Chem 2021, 7, 11, 2927-2942
DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2021.10.016

Ni-Catalyzed Carboxylation of Aziridines en Route to β-Amino Acids
Jacob Davies, Daniel Janssen-Müller, Dmitry P. Zimin, Craig S. Day, Tomoyuki Yanagi, Jonas Elfert, and Ruben Martin
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01916

Networking event Merck Sharp & Dohme and ICIQ

October 20, 2021

Jacob gave an online oral presentation at the networking event between Merck Sharp & Dohme and ICIQ titled “Ni-Catalyzed Carboxylation of Aziridines en route to β-Amino Acids”.

Why ICIQ (truthfully)?

May 8, 2020

The decision to move to Tarragona came right at the end of my PhD studies, a busy time to be applying for postdoctorate positions and writing grant applications! My better