Speaker: Dr. Lisa Roy
Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai-IOC Odisha
Campus Bhubaneswar, 751013, India
Title: “A Computational Perspective on Harnessing
Non-covalent Interactions in Catalysis”.
Day and Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 16.00 Hrs.
Venue: Room no. 350, Chemistry Department
Second floor, Annex
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Hosted by Prof. Achintya Kumar Dutta
Abstract Non-covalent interactions (NCIs) like π-π stacking interactions, H-bonding, halogen
bonding, anion-π interactions, XH-π interactions are ubiquitously found in both
chemical and biological domains and extensively used to build new molecules and
materials.
1 NCIs involving aromatic functional groups lead to molecular recognition,
catalysis, stereo- and regioselectivity of the products. In a recent study we predicted the
unique role of indole molecules which stabilizes the transition states during the
dehydrogenation process of polyfluorinated alcohols, through non-covalent π-π and Hbonding interactions.
2 This study put forth a straightforward protocol to develop
biologically relevant fluoroalkyl bis-indoles in a sustainable fashion through in-depth
insights gained from extensive DFT predictions. Furthermore, our latest study unfurls
the crucial role of NCIs in electrochemical synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted
NH-pyrroles from enamines.3 Trifluoroethanol additives are found to have “magical
effect” on tuning oxidation potential of enamines through H-bonding and C-H···π
interactions, thus facilitating the desired chemo-selective cross-coupling. Lastly, we
discuss how NCIs underpin chirality in bifunctional squaramide catalyzed reactions
leading to skeletal diversity in synthesis of azocine derivatives.