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SynformPeople, Trends and Views in Chemical Synthesis 2015/11 Direct Synthesis of 5-Arylbarbituric Acids by Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Reactions of Arenes with Diazo Compounds Highlighted article by D. Best, D. J. Burns, H. W. Lam This document was downloaded for personal use only. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited. Contact Your opinion about Synform is welcome, please correspond if you like: [email protected] Thieme A151 Synform Dear Readers, Once again this Editorial comes at a very busy time, In this issue so that’s me writing it during the “lunch break” (what I mean by that is swallowing a packet of oatcakes, a Young Career Focus couple of cheese chunks and an apple while desperately Dr. Matthew J. Fuchter (Imperial College London, UK) ............................A152 typing on a keyboard, exactly what we are advised not to do by nutrition experts…) while keeping an eye on Literature Coverage the watch because the next meeting is already looming. Direct Synthesis of 5-Aryl Barbituric Acids by Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Reactions of Arenes with Tough life, isn’t it? But it’s still a lot of fun, as long as Diazo Compounds ...........................................A156 administration work remains a minor share and research continues to rule in my diary (hopefully the SYNTHESIS Highlight senior management won’t read this Editorial, otherwise The Mistake in Carl Bosch’s PhD Thesis: A Contribution to ‘Retro-Chemistry’ ....................A160 I might find myself flooded with administration from the next Monday…). Let’s have a look at the content SYNLETT Highlight of this November 2015 issue of Synform then. A new Expedient Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Cyclic Imines .................................................A164 YCF article opens the issue, featuring M. J. Fuchter (UK) who answers the usual 5 questions in a very exhaustive Coming soon ..................................................A166 and entertaining manner (thanks Matthew!). The next SynStory covers a topic which is very close to my heart: the synthesis of barbiturates, a fascinating class of bio - active molecules with a long tradition in chemistry. Contact These molecules look structurally simple, but believe If you have any questions or wish to send me, their synthesis is not! So the new synthetic approach feedback, please write to Matteo Zanda at: developed by H. W. Lam (UK) is more than welcome as [email protected] it will make 5-aryl-barbiturates way more accessible. The third SynStory is absolutely fascinating and com- bines recent advances in synthetic methodology with intriguing aspects of the history of chemistry, expand- This document was downloaded for personal use only. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited. ing on a recent article published in Synthesis by A. Giannis (Germany). I definitely urge you to read it! The issue is closed by a SynStory based on an interesting SynletT article, a contribution from the big pharma industry, presenting a new synthesis of functionalized cyclic imines developed by T. A. Moss (UK). Lunch break is over, someone is knocking on my door… Enjoy your reading! © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart • New York – Synform 2015/11, A151 • Published online: October 19, 2015 • DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1560203 A152 Synform Young Career Focus Young Career Focus: Dr. Matthew J. Fuchter (Imperial College London, UK) Background and Purpose. From time to time SYNFORM meets young up-and-coming researchers who are performing exceptionally well in the arena of organic chemistry and related fields of research, in order to introduce them to the readership. This Young Career Focus presents Dr. Matthew J. Fuchter (Imperial College London, UK). Biographical Sketch Thieme Chemistry journals and received a Diploma for being the ‘most meritorious runner-up’ of the European Federation Matthew Fuchter obtained his for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) Prize for a Young Medicinal first class honors degree (MSci in Chemist in Academia (2015). The Fuchter group has a wide- Chemistry) from the University ranging track record in the design, synthesis and application of Bristol (UK) in 2002, where he of organic molecules in chemistry, medicine and materials. was awarded the Richard N. Dixon Prize as well as an undergraduate scholarship and several faculty commendations. In January 2006 he completed his PhD research INTERVIEW entitled ‘Synthetic Studies on Por- Dr. M. J. Fuchter phyrazines: Biological Applications SYNFORM What is the focus of your current research and New Preparative Methods’ un- activity? der the supervision of Professor Anthony G. M. Barrett, FRS FMedSci (Imperial College London, UK) and in close collabo- Dr. M. J. Fuchter Broadly speaking, research in my group ration with Professor Brian Hoffman (Northwestern Univer aims to use expertise in chemical synthesis to impact mole sity, USA). Following a short spell as a Research Associate at cular science in chemistry, biology and materials. This means Imperial College, Dr. Fuchter was appointed as a CSIRO Re- that while we are interested in the development and/or appli search Fellow at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial cation of stateoftheart organic synthetic procedures and Research Organisation, Australia as well as a Visiting Fellow strategies, our efforts in these areas are aligned to multidis at the University of Melbourne (Australia), where he worked ciplinary and collaborative projects. Representative examples with Professor Andrew B. Holmes, AM FRS FAA FinstP. He of research projects include the design and development of briefly took up an independent Fellowship position in 2007 novel bioactive probes to be used in chemical biological and at the School of Pharmacy, University of London (UK), before medicinal chemistry programs, and the design and develop being appointed as a Lecturer in Synthetic and Medicinal ment of novel chiral semiconducting molecules for applica Chemistry at Imperial College London (UK) in July 2008. He This document was downloaded for personal use only. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited. was subsequently promoted to Senior Lecturer in July 2012, tion to unique organic electronic devices. and Reader in September 2015. He is currently additionally the co-Director of the Imperial College MRes course in Drug SYNFORM When did you get interested in synthesis? Dis covery, a Research Board member of the Imperial College Institute of Chemical Biology, an Associate Editor of the Roy- Dr. M. J. Fuchter During my undergraduate degree in al Society of Chemistry (RSC) journal MedChemComm and chem istry, the problem solving and creative nature of orga an Appointed Member of the RSC Organic Division Coun cil. nic synthesis captivated me. The ability to design brand new In 2014 he was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s molecules, even using only a basic understanding of molecu Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize, as well as being admitted lar reactivity, seemed very powerful to me, and still does! I to the RSC as a Fellow. In 2015, he was selected as a Thieme continue to be inspired by the fact that synthesis can deliver Chemistry Journal Awardee by the Editorial Boards of the a wealth of fascinating molecular materials, which create vast opportunities for science and for society. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart • New York – Synform 2015/11, A152–A155 • Published online: October 19, 2015 • DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1560203 A153 Synform Young Career Focus SYNFORM What do you think about the modern role all the ongoing research in the group, from natural product and prospects of organic synthesis? (semisynthesis) to asymmetric methods to construct heli cally chiral aromatics. In many cases, this results in publish ed Dr. M. J. Fuchter Organic synthesis continues to deliver a outputs focused on synthetic methodology development whole range of widevalue products including pharmaceu (although not highlighted here). ticals, agrochemicals, plastics and organic electronics. The value of organic synthesis to society is therefore undeniable. 1) Stereochemistry in chemistry, materials and devices. Personally, I am really interested in how to design organic mo Chirality is a fundamental symmetry property of elemental lecules to perform specific and unique tasks, from perturbing particles, molecules or even macroscopic objects like human protein function, to modulating light signals, to conducting hands. Chirality is a significant theme in the group and we charge: to control molecular function via smart design. For have published novel synthetic methods to control/install a many years, organic chemistry was concerned with the de number of forms of molecular chirality including point (Org. velopment and application of organic synthesis to better un Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 512), axial (Synlett 2013, 24, 2365; derstand molecular structure. Now that we have a very good invited submission for the EuCheMS Young Investigators Work- understanding of molecular structure, I think it is the turn of shop Special Issue) and helical (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 1706) chi molecular function. Others have advocated such an idea too rality. Such methods give us unique access to interesting chiral (for example: G. M. Whitesides, J. Deutch Nature 2011, 469, small molecules and polymers, which we explore in a range of 21). For me, such studies involve collaborative efforts with applications in materials science. other scientists in physics, materials, biology and medicine. I truly believe that the ‘molecular vision’ of chemists is rather A representative

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