A focus of our current work is the development of catalytic asymmetric methods for the synthesis of complex molecules. Our work is centered on approaches to generate structures comprising demanding quaternary stereogenic centers. We focus on the exploitation of chiral counter-anions in order to control absolute stereochemistry.

Our initial work led to the generation of structural cores with embedded chiral N,S-acetal unit possessing quaternary stereogenic center. We demonstrated the usefulness of this protocol by employing it as a enantio-determining step in the synthesis of a known HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. This approach was successfully extended to chiral counter-anion directed aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction for the preparation of triaryl quaternary carbon centers.