A young RUDN researcher speaks about the critical role of water in the Henri reaction at the International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry in Italy
His study is devoted to the mechanism of the Henri reaction catalyzed by a copper complex. This reaction occurs with the participation of aldehydes (or ketones) and nitroalkanes with the formation of β-nitro-alcohols. The obtained nitroalcohols can be used for the synthesis of medicinal substances for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, as well as antiviral drugs that inhibit the development of HIV: β-blocker (Propanalol), β-receptor agonists (Norepinephrine and Salbutamol), HIV protease inhibitor (Amprenavir or Vertex 478), anthracyclic class of antibiotics (Akosamin) and others.
In the course of the study it was found that the results of the reaction are not reproduced. The researcher managed to find out that the reason lies in the amount of water present. Experiments have shown that with different amounts of water the reaction rate is different. Thus, for the first time it was shown that the water present in the reaction mixture accelerates the rate of the reaction catalyzed by the copper complex. In the course of the research, the mechanism of action of the catalyst was studied in detail. Earlier scientists did not take into account that water somehow participates in the transition state of the reaction. Vladimir Larionov with the help of experiments and quantum chemical calculations managed to show that water has a crucial role in the reactivity of copper. The results of the research in the future can help synthetic chemists predict the mechanism of action of the catalysts, not only in the Henri reaction, but also in other important reactions in the field of organic chemistry.
ICOMC-2018 brought together scientists from all over the world interested in the field of organometallic chemistry. A lot of works were presented in the field of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, as well as materials science. The conference was attended by more than 1,000 participants from more than 35 countries.
In the last five years, academic staff of RUDN alongside the Chinese universities and research centers has achieved impressive results. More than 1,000 scientific publications were made jointly in a wide spectrum from engineering and technology to medicine and social sciences. 19 of these materials were published in top-rated journals which verifies that the works were world-class level.
RUDN University has been included among the leaders in the BRICS ESG University Ranking among 65 leading universities. They were assessed on 20 criteria, ranging from education and research to environmental and social agendas.
At a meeting of the new RUDN University Dissertation Council in the specialties of 2.1.12 “Architecture of Buildings and Structures. Creative Concepts of Architectural Activity” and 2.1.11 “Theory and History of Architecture, Restoration and Reconstruction of Historical and Architectural Heritage”, three postgraduate students — Natalia Kalinina, Evgeny Ogienko, and Yulia Loginova — were awarded PhD degrees in Architecture for the first time in the university's history.