Two US scientists have been granted $100,000 to further research into the environmental advantages of using iridium catalysts, it has been reported.

The funding, which was awarded at the 11th Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference in Washington, DC, will go to Professors Robert E Maleczka Jr and Milton R Smith III of Michigan State University.

The award will enable the pair to further their work into Suzuki-type activation and C-C coupling of aromatic compounds that cuts out the halogenated precursor that is ordinarily required for making a boronic ester intermediate.

In particular, their work has involved the use of C-H activation of nonhalogenated arenas using iridium catalysts and pinacolborane to form boronic ester intermediates.

These intermediates cross-couple with aryl or alkenyl halides in subsequent palladium-catalyzed reactions to form unsymmetrical biaryl or vinyl arene compounds.

Advantangeously, this approach allows for a simple and direct synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryl compounds, while partially eliminating environmentally-damaging halogenated aromatics, it has been claimed in Chemical and Engineering News.

Source: ACS, Pharma Initiative Awards Additional Grant, 11/07/07
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/85/i29/8529news4.html

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