The research underway in the Kelson laboratories is focused on the development of bifunctional ketone transfer hydrogenation catalysts with potential application for environmentally friendly and deliberately specific pharmaceutical synthesis. These catalysts are polypyridine supported ruthenium complexes designed to bind substrates and support hydrogen transfer through inter-ligand interactions. The novel design of these catalysts also render them tolerant of oxygen and independent of basic co-catalysts. Efforts are underway to extend the inter-ligand interactions beyond simple steric strategies to achieve selectivity and enantioselectivity in ketone transfer hydrogenation. As part of this work, the Kelson group has also developed single-flask methodologies for preparing novel polypyridine ligands for our designer catalysts that may also have potential as anti-tumor agents
