Terpene cyclizations are one of the most complex reactions that occur in nature. Scientists have found that replicating this reaction in a lab setting has proved to be immensely challenging as result of the numerous intermediates that must be controlled through the cyclization process in the absence of an enzyme. This study uses commercially available lipases to conduct reactions with geraniol-derived starting materials to identify conditions for performing a terpene cyclization effectively and efficiently. Through hypothesized screening of enzymes and reaction conditions, we have identified a protocol for the successful cyclization of limonene and other geranyl-derived products.

The use of enzyme-catalyst interfaces is underexplored in the field of biocatalysis, particularly in studies on enabling novel reactivity of enzymes. For this thesis, the HaloTag® protein tagging platform was proposed as a bioconjugation method for a pinacol coupling reaction using lipases, as a model for novel reactivities proceeding via ketyl radical intermediates and hydrogen-bonding-facilitated redox attenuation. After an initial lipase screening of 9 lipases, one lipase (Candida rugosa) was found to perform the pinacol coupling of p-anisaldehyde under standard conditions (fluorescein and 530nm light, 3% yield). Based on a retrosynthetic analysis for the photocatalyst-incorporated HaloTag® linker, the intermediates haloamine 1 and aldehyde 6 were synthesized. Further experiments are underway or planned to complete linker synthesis and conduct pinacol coupling experiments with a bioconjugated system. This project underscores the promising biocatalytic promiscuity of lipases for performing reactions proceeding through ketyl radical intermediates, as well as the underdeveloped potential of incorporating bioengineering principles like bioconjugation into biocatalysis to overcome kinetic barriers to electron transfer and optimize biocatalytic reactions.

This thesis is about how Fe catalysts can be degraded using photocatalysis and how Fe catalysts can degrade small molecules in conjunction with light. The goal of this paper is to look further into more sustainable methods of organic chemistry. Many current organic chemistry practices involve the use of precious metals. Iron is a more sustainable catalyst because it is abundant and inexpensive which is important for preserving the earth and making the organic chemistry more accessible. Along the same lines, light is a renewable energy source and has demonstrated its ability to aid in reactions. Overall, the goal of this paper is to explore the more sustainable alternatives to harsh and toxic organic chemistry practices through the use of Iron and light.

The trifluoromethyl group is an essential chemical motif in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. The trifluoromethyl group has similar steric bulk to a methyl group, but exhibits strongly electron withdrawing properties. As a result, a trifluoromethyl group can provide a molecule with enhanced lipophilicity, bioavailability, and metabolic stability, which makes it a commonly used tool to tune activity of agrochemicals and pharmaceutical candidates. There are many methods to generate a new trifluoromethyl moiety, but many of these methods rely on stoichiometric metal reagents or harsh reaction conditions. One strategy to install the trifluoromethyl group under benign conditions is with photoredox catalysis. In the field of photocatalysis, iron has emerged as an alternative for precious metals due to its low cost, earth-abundance, and environmentally benign nature. Methods of trifluoromethylation utilizing iron catalysis do exist, but they often rely on expensive CF3 precursors such as Togni’s Reagent and trifluoromethyl iodide. This thesis demonstrates a method using iron photocatalysis for decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of alkenes using trifluoroacetic acid. We have successfully enabled trifluoromethylation of select methoxy-substituted benzene derivatives as well as a number of alkenes, including those bearing sulfone and ketone groups.