Sculpting Strong C—H Bonds in Complex Natural Products

A team of chemists led by M. Christina White, William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has unveiled a breakthrough in selective oxidation chemistry that could significantly advance drug development with natural products. In this video, the researchers draw an analogy between their new Mn(CF3PDP) oxidant – that cuts strong C—H bonds but leaves weaker allylic and pi-bonds intact – to a diamond blade. Unlike a carving knife, a diamond blade cuts through hard stone but leaves soft surfaces (like skin) intact because of its mechanism of action that grinds rather than slices.