Chemical Society Seminar: Dr. Jean-Philip Lumb - Driving Synthesis by Oxidation

Even though oxidation reactions are required for the synthesis of almost any functional molecule and material, they remain a class of reaction that suffers from poor atom- and step-efficiency, and challenges of selectivity. This lecture will discuss our efforts to develop mild, efficient, and selective oxidation reactions in the areas of organic and metal-organic synthesis. Topics will include aerobic copper catalysis, the total synthesis of lignan natural products, and a quinone-catechol redox couple that enables the aerobic oxidation of metals and main-group elements.