Enantioselective N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Annulation Reactions with Imidazolidinones

Methods for generating substituted imidazoles NU 2013-003 Inventors Karl A. Scheidt* Elizabeth A. O'Bryan Short Description Improved method for producing substituted imidazoles, key biologically active compounds used against a variety of diseases Abstract Substituted imidazoles are a privileged structural motif present in small molecules active against HIV, depression and inflammation. Methods for producing these types of molecules are rarely reported, indicating there is a high degree of difficulty involved in these processes. Northwestern University researchers have developed a novel method for producing substituted imidazoles with various functional groups. Their method is simple, efficient and can be used with a variety of functional groups to produce a large variety of compounds. Furthermore, this method can be applied to synthesizing novel amino acids by introducing new functional groups onto a glutamic acid scaffold. This novel class of compounds is expected to have a huge variety of biological functions and find many applications in the field of drug development. Applications o Anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-viral drugs o New amino acid derivatives Advantages o Operationally simple reaction o High yield with excellent enantioselectivity o Large number (over 15) of functional groups is tolerated Publications McCusker O'Bryan E, Scheidt KA. Enantioselective N-Heterocyclin Carbene Catalyzed Annulation Reactions with Imidazolidinones (2013). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 52: 13616-13620. IP Status Issued US patent 8,912, 341. Marketing Contact Allan Nader, PhD Invention Manager (e) a-nader@northwestern.edu (p) 847.491.4456 Tags CHEMICAL: methods, CHEMICAL: medicinal