Research Area

Organic Synthesis, C–H Activation

• Cp*Co(III)-Catalysed C-H Functionalization
• Total Synthesis of Natural Products
• Photo-redox Catalysis and Electrocatalysis

Research Interests

First-row transition metals are available abundantly in Earth's crust, compared to their 4d and 5d analogs. Despite their high natural abundance and low toxicity, first-row transition metals are underutilized in C-H activation. Our group is involved in the development of novel organic transformations using Cp*Co(III)-catalysis. In recent years, the area of mild C−H activation has gained significant importance, as it allows to carry out the reactions at or below room temperature and in the absence of any oxidant or reductant. This results in the enhancement of the functional group tolerance of the reactions and ultimately leads to the application in the late-stage functionalization of complex biomolecules. Our group is focusing on the development of mild C−H activation using Cp*Ir(III) catalysis especially using α-diazocarbonyl compounds for the synthesis of various biologically important heterocyclic scaffolds. Our group is also interested in the total synthesis of indolizidinone types of natural products and their analogous using C−H functionalization strategy.

Representative Publications

• Free Amine-Directed Ru(II)-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral [4 + 2] C−H Activation/Annulation of Benzylamines with Sulfoxonium Ylides. Yogesh N. Aher and Amit B. Pawar*, J. Org. Chem 2022.
• Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed C–H amination/annulation cascade of sulfoxonium ylides with anthranils for the synthesis of indoloindolones. Yogesh N. Aher and Amit B. Pawar*, Chem. Commun. 2021, 57, 7164.
• Cp*Ir(III)-Catalyzed C−H/O−H Functionalization of Salicylaldehydes for the Synthesis of Chromones at Room Temperature. Dhanaji M. Lade, Yogesh N. Aher and Amit B. Pawar*, J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84, 9188.
• Cp*Ir(III)-catalyzed C−H/N−H functionalization of sulfoximines for the synthesis of 1,2-benzothiazines at room temperature. Yogesh N. Aher, Dhanaji M. Lade and Amit B. Pawar*, Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 6288.
• Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed C−H functionalization cascade of N‑methoxyamides with alkynedione for the synthesis of indolizidines. Lahu N. Chavan; Krishna Kumar Gollapelli; Rambabu Chegondi* and Amit B. Pawar*, Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 2186.