During his PhD studies, Valdemar Juel Enemærke researched asymmetric synthesis mediated by small organic molecules. Asymmetric synthesis is the synthesis of scalemic (uneven) mixtures of chiral molecules – molecules that are each other’s mirror images. Two molecules that are each other’s enantiomers (mirror images) can possess markedly different biological activities. Therefore, being able to control which enantiomer is formed is of high importance. This is the purpose of asymmetric synthesis.

The main challenge in asymmetric synthesis is to control the rate of formation of the two enantiomers (mirror image forms); one must be formed faster than its mirror image. In his research Valdemar Juel Enemærke has utilised small organic molecules to control the rates of formation of the two respective enantiomers of several chiral molecules two form scalemic (uneven) mixtures. Main focus is directed towards the use of amines in enamine catalysis. Furthermore, a chiral solvent has been developed. Utilisation of a chiral solvent constitutes a novel approach to the challenge of asymmetric synthesis.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 8 November at 13:15.
Place: Building 1514, room 213, Auditorium I, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Uneven Mixtures.
Contact information: Valdemar Juel Enemærke, e-mail: valdemar@chem.au.dk, tel.: +45 27216716.
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Mathias Christmann; Department of Chemistry; Free University of Berlin; Germany.
Professor Mogens Brønsted; Department of Chemistry; University of Copenhagen; Denmark.
Associate Professor Steen Uttrup Pedersen (chair); Department of Chemistry; Aarhus University; Denmark.
Main supervisor:
Professor Karl Anker Jørgensen; Department of Chemistry; Aarhus University, Denmark.
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS,
Ny Munkegade 120, bygning 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.