The development of novel methodologies for the selective Tischenko reaction and the use of acylpyrazoles as directing groups in organocatalytic 1,4-conjugate addition reactions

Abstract

Summary [end of chapter 1, page 59] Though significant advances in the field of organocatalytic Michael addition reactions have been achieved through the enantioselective additions of pronucleophiles to, in the main, nitrostyrenes and chalcones, there's still much room for improvement. Specificallly, these nitrostyrenes and chalcones are of little use and their utility as substrates is due to their high electrophilicity. It would be more advantageous to have a substrate which was stable, yet reactive enough under bifunctional catalysis and which could be readily further functionalised to yield products formally derived from α,β-unsaturated esters, amides and acids (which are currently beyond the scope of bifunctional organocatalytic methodologies). It will be within the scope of this thesis to investigate such substrates.