Name: Anna-Christina Hormes
Diploma / M.Sc degree: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
(May 2006)

PhD Project: Desymmetrization of 1,4-Cyclohexadiene and its Application in a Natural Product Synthesis

Abstract of Research Project

The asymmetric allylation of carbonyl groups to produce chiral homoallylic alcohols is an important C-C bond forming reaction in organic synthesis. Recently, a new method for the desymmetrization of metallated cyclohexadienes (based on a Ti-TADDOL-complex) has been introduced by our group. The highly functionalized products obtained using the method, are interesting chiral building blocks for natural product synthesis.

Prostaglandins are a class of natural products which have been known for a long time. Euler discovered them in the 30s. The isolation was achieved about twenty years later. Up to now many synthesis of prostaglandins appeared. However, the development of new approaches to prostaglandins is still of great importance for the synthetic community.

In my thesis I am planning to develop a new prostaglandin synthesis. The key steps are the desymmetrization of 1,4-cyclohexadiene followed by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.




Anna-Christina Hormes
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