Lewis acid catalysis is an important tool of modern organic chemistry. Among the great variety of known Lewis acids, Ln(III) triflates are unique. They possess a strong Lewis acid character and are highly selective. Another very important property of lanthanide triflates is their stability in water. One important goal is to develop novel catalysts in order to perform asymmetric Lewis acid catalyzed reactions in aqueous media. Additionally, the focus is on target-oriented synthesis of natural products and/or bioactive compounds which are subsequently tested for their anti-cancer properties by collaborators within the department of New Mexico Tech.

Nathaniel working on the separation of his synthesized compound