Our current research is focused on different subjects in the areas of transition metal catalysed transformations and natural product synthesis.
There are two main areas of interest:
Cascade reactions: Cascade or domino reactions are among the most efficient transformations in modern organic chemistry:
Multiple bonds and often multiple stereogenic centres can be introduced into a simple starting material within a single step transformation.
The focus of these projects lies on investigations on the development of novel catalytic cascade reactions using ruthenium catalysis.
These projects are supported by mechanistic investigations including kinetic studies and detailed spectroscopic studies.
Natural product synthesis: Natural products are a divers source for biologically active compounds relevant of medicinal chemistry.
Based on the development of new synthetic methodology (including cascade reactions) we aim at devising efficient approaches to certain classes of
natural products. The main aim of these projects is to develop short and flexible syntheses, which allow for the synthesis of a range of analogues.
In collaboration with medicinally and biologically oriented research groups we thereby aim at a molecular understanding of small molecule
interactions relevant to medicinal chemistry.