Vora, Harit, authorRovis, Tomislav, advisorWilliams, Robert, committee memberWood, John, committee memberChen, Eugene, committee memberMcNeil, Michael, committee member2007-01-032007-01-032011http://hdl.handle.net/10217/52114N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed α-redox reaction has been utilized towards the catalytic synthesis of amides utilizing amines and substoichiometric quantities of an acyl transfer reagent in a waste reduced acylation process. The reaction is amenable to a plethora of amines and amine hydrochloride salts as nucleophiles. The reaction is applicable towards a variety α-reducible aldehydes as α,α-dichloro aldehydes, enals, epoxy and aziridnyl aldehydes all provide the respective amides in moderate to excellent yields with the latter in high diastereoselectivity. The asymmetric amidation reaction provides chiral amides in moderate enantioselectivity. Additionally, the N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed α-redox reaction was also utilized for the synthesis of enantioenriched α-chloro and α-fluoro carboxylic acids. The reaction also provide for a mild installation of a deuterium from D2O furnishing enantioenriched isotopically labeled compounds. Investigations in to the mechanism have revealed that the carbene displays behavior of a phase transfer reagent by shuttling hydroxide from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. Additionally, it has been found that the turnover limiting step in this acylation process in the hydrolysis of the acyl azolium.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.synthesisNHC catalysisorganic chemistryasymmetriccatalysisText