NSF Org:	CHE Division Of Chemistry
Recipient:	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	January 26, 1999
Latest Amendment Date:	January 26, 1999
Award Number:	9874694
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Robin L. Polt CHE  Division Of Chemistry MPS  Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date:	February 1, 1999
End Date:	January 31, 2003 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$272,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$272,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1999 = $272,000.00
History of Investigator:	Thomas Lectka (Principal Investigator) lectka@jhu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Johns Hopkins University 3400 N CHARLES ST BALTIMORE MD  US  21218-2608 (443)997-1898
Sponsor Congressional District:	07
Primary Place of Performance:	Johns Hopkins University 3400 N CHARLES ST BALTIMORE MD  US  21218-2608
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	FTMTDMBR29C7
Parent UEI:	GS4PNKTRNKL3
NSF Program(s):	SYNTHESIS
Primary Program Source:	app-0199
Program Reference Code(s):	1045, 1187, 9146, 9177, 9180, MANU, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	194800
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.049

ABSTRACT

Professor Leckta's multifaceted research efforts explore aspects of asymmetric transformations of imines. These include addition reactions of enol- and allylsilanes and ketene silyl acetals to imino esters catalyzed by chiral Lewis acids, asymmetric Staudinger and Baylis-Hillman reactions. Also, the development of novel catalysts based on diborane as a bifunctional Lewis acid and (bis)phosphine ligands is being pursued while incorporating computations to evaluate and possibly design useful catalytic species. Creating a bridge between the experimental and the theoretical is a hallmark of Professor Leckta'a teaching goals, with computational chemistry employed in the introductory as well as advanced aspects of his curriculum. Further, plans are being made to include high school teachers with one goal being to develop visual aids to pique the interest of high school students.

With this CAREER award, the Synthetic Organic Program supports the research and teaching efforts of Dr. Thomas Leckta of Johns Hopkins University. Professor Leckta's research deals with new ways to make nitrogen-containing molecules called amines in such a way that the three- dimensional shape or chirality of the molecule is controlled. This is ever more important when designing the synthesis of biomolecules and drugs. Professor Leckta's teaching emphasizes the use of computers as a tool for predicting the outcome of chemical reactions before time is invested in actually trying the chemistry in the laboratory. An outreach program is being planned that will involve high school teachers and provide demonstrations of high-quality graphics and computations to high school students.

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