Our research involves
the development of new reactions for the synthesis of high-value
molecules, such as drugs. The goal of our work is to streamline the
current methods by which complex molecules are synthesized by inventing
new reactions that are more economic, efficient and green. Students who
choose to work in our lab will learn organic and organometallic synthesis
techniques, and will use state-of-the art analytical methods such as
GC-MS, automated HPLC, and high-field NMR on a regular basis. Previous
undergraduates in our lab have used palladium catalysts to activate (break
and transform) strong C-H bonds and have discovered a new asymmetric
reaction using chiral titanium catalysts. Significant portions of this
work have or will soon be published, with the SURF fellows as co-authors.
