Lam Research Group

When Chemistry Has Potential

Welcome

Welcome to our electrifying world of innovative chemistry! Our research is a deep dive into the potential of organic electrosynthesis, where we are pioneering new strategies for synthesising highly reactive intermediates and revolutionising the way we understand and use electrochemistry. We're not just exploring the science, we're reshaping it, using cutting-edge approaches such as flow electrochemistry and pushing the boundaries of medicinal electrosynthesis. Join us on this journey of discovery and innovation as we unlock new potential and redefine the boundaries of chemistry.

Recent Publications

eHydrogenation

Hydrogenation reactions are staple transformations commonly used across scientific fields to synthesise pharmaceuticals, natural products, and various functional materials. However, the vast majority of these reactions require the use of a toxic and costly catalyst leading to unpractical, hazardous and often functionally limited conditions. Herein, we report a new, general, practical, efficient, mild and high-yielding hydrogen-free electrochemical method for the reduction of alkene, alkyne, nitro and azido groups. Finally, this method has been applied to deuterium labelling.

eDeOxyFluorination

Tertiary C–F bonds are important structural designs; however, they suffer from challenging synthesis. Current methodologies use corrosive amine-HF salts or expensive and hazardous catalysts and reagents. Our group recently introduced collidinium tetrafluoroborate as an efficient fluorinating agent for anodic decarboxyfluorination reactions. Nevertheless, tertiary carboxylic acids are less readily available and more challenging to prepare than their alcohol analogues. Herein we report a practical, mild, and cheap electrochemical method to achieve deoxyfluorination of hindered carbon centers.

eIsothiocyanation

Isothiocyanates are ubiquitous building blocks used across the fields. Nevertheless, their classical syntheses very often rely on the use of toxic and expensive reagents. Herein, we report a new practical, mild, high-yielding, and supporting-electrolyte-free electrochemical method for the preparation of aliphatic and aromatic isothiocyanates from amine and carbon disulfide.

A practical electrochemical method for the rapid, safer, and mild synthesis of tertiary hindered alkyl fluorides from carboxylic acids has been developed without the need for hydrofluoric acid salts or non-glass reactors. In this anodic fluorination, collidinium tetrafluoroborate acts as both the supporting electrolyte and fluoride donor. A wide range of functional groups has been shown to be compatible, and the possibility of scale-up using flow electrochemistry has also been demonstrated.