Federal Grant Award Summary

Professor Michael J. Krische at the University of Texas at Austin received a $550,841 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) awarded August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029. The grant funds the development of enantioselective catalytic methods for N-heteroaryl carbon-hydrogen (C-H) functionalization via dearomative addition-hydrogen auto-transfer. The research aims to create safer, more cost-effective processes for modifying aromatic nitrogen-heterocycles—key structural components in pharmaceutical and agrochemical products—by converting inexpensive, commercially available platform chemicals into value-added products while reducing hazardous chemical waste generation.

The project delivers catalytic technologies that enable direct C-H bond conversion of electron-deficient aromatic N-heterocycles (azines and azoles) through ruthenium-mediated allylation reactions using abundant π-unsaturated compounds. Beyond the primary research objective, the grant supports educational and workforce development through training undergraduate and graduate students in synthetic chemistry and transition metal catalysis, as well as student-oriented symposia providing career development experiences. The research aligns with advanced manufacturing priorities by advancing byproduct-free N-heteroaryl C-H functionalizations that reduce both environmental impact and production costs relative to current synthetic protocols.