Current topics studied in our group:

• Chiral NHC ligands and fluorination reagents
• Ring opening metathesis of strained fluorocycloalkenes
• Computational studies of reaction mechanisms
• Chiral fluorous recyclable ruthenium and palladium catalysts

We have developed polyfluoroalkylated Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation precatalyst analogues and PEPPSI catalyst analogues, that can be recycled using medium fluorous separation methods. This approach utilizes hydrofluoroethers such as HFE 7100 or HFE 7500, which are environmentally acceptable in comparison to perfluorinated solvents.

• Ring-closing metathesis of prochiral oxaendiynes

Prochiral oxaendiynes undergo chemoselective ring-closing metathesis affording 2H-pyran derivatives, which can be further transformed into tricyclic compounds via chemo- and stereoselective Diels-Alder reaction.