The studies in synthesis by the speaker and his research group in 2006 led to the development of reagents that contain seemingly incompatible functional groups – an amine and an aldehyde. What started as a curiosity-driven project has turned into a sustained exploration of kinetically amphoteric molecules. As an example, the multifunctional nature of aziridine aldehydes enables them to participate in reactions of high atom- and step- economy, seamlessly leading to efficient syntheses characterized by minimal reliance on protecting groups. In this lecture, the speaker will illuminate several key applications of aziridine aldehydes developed in his lab, including his ongoing efforts in the area of peptide macrocyclization. He will also describe his inroads in the area of boron transfer technologies. Boron-containing molecules have found a preeminent role as both the endpoints of synthesis and as synthetic intermediates that allow one to tap into the enormous potential of the carbon-boron bond. He and his colleagues have developed synthetically useful building blocks that contain nucleophilic carbon-boron bonds in close proximity to electrophilic centers. He will highlight the origins of this area of research and will discuss some future directions of his work in the field of synthesis enabled by organoboron compounds.
About the speaker
Prof Andrei K. Yudin obtained his BSc in Chemistry at Moscow State University in 1992 and PhD in Chemistry at the University of Southern California in 1996. He took up a postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Prof K. Barry Sharpless at the Scripps Research Institute in 1996. In 1998, he started his career at the University of Toronto and became an Associate Professor in 2002. Prof Yudin is currently the Professor in Department of Chemistry in University of Toronto.
Prof Yudin’s research interest focuses on developing a bridge between basic chemistry research and drug discovery. In addition to significant fundamental discoveries, his lab is making tangible contributions to the chemical industry.
Prof Yudin received numerous of awards including the Premier’s Research Excellence Award (2000), CCS Award for Combinatorial Chemistry (2000), Cottrell Teacher-Scholar Award (2001), Amgen New Faculty Award (2004), American Chemical Society Moissant Fellowship (2005), NSERC Accelerator Supplement Award (2008), CSC Merck-Frosst Therapeutic Center Award (2010), Rutherford Medal of the Royal Society of Canada (2010) and the University of Toronto Inventors of the Year Awards (2011).
For attendees’ attention
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
