Date of Award:
5-2026
Document Type:
Dissertation
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department:
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Committee Chair(s)
Gang Li
Committee
Gang Li
Committee
Yi Rao
Committee
Bradley Davidson
Committee
Tuan Trinh
Committee
Dian Wang
Abstract
Chemical reactions that directly modify carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds provide efficient routes to complex molecules. By forming carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds, these methods can improve the efficiency and sustainability of chemical synthesis. These reactions are important in the development of pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. However, challenges remain in selectivity, catalyst design, and substrate scope.
This dissertation describes the development of new chemical methods that allow the selective modification of amide-containing molecules using inexpensive iron- and cobalt-based catalysts. The first part of this work introduces a new reaction that uses iron to selectively target a specific type of carbon-hydrogen bond in amide-containing molecules. Through this process, a key intermediate structure is formed, which can be easily transformed into a variety of valuable compounds. The second part extends this idea to form sulfur-carbon bonds, marking the first time such a reaction has been achieved through this type of iron-mediated chemistry. In the third part, a cooperative system combining iron and cobalt was designed to convert certain carbon-hydrogen bonds into carbon-carbon double bonds, demonstrating a powerful way to introduce unsaturation into molecules. Overall, this research expands the toolbox of sustainable, iron-based catalytic reactions for building complex molecules from simple starting materials, an important step toward more efficient and environmentally friendly chemical synthesis.
Recommended Citation
Ramírez, Emmanuel, "Earth-Abundant Transition Metal-Catalyzed Nitrene-Mediated γ-C(sp3)–H Functionalization of Amide-Containing Compounds" (2026). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present. 759.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/759
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