The main focus of research in the Birman group is on the de novo design of asymmetric catalysts and reagents. As part of this effort, they have developed Amidine-Based Catalysts, or ABCs, and demonstrated their high enantioselectivity in many asymmetric acyl transfer reactions. The versatility, accessibility, and ease of structural modification of ABCs have attracted the interest of a number of other research groups worldwide, which has led to further expansion of their synthetic utility.
Birman Group Website