Catalysis

We are interested in leveraging fundamental concepts in weakly coordinating anion chemistry and main group catalysis to discover novel reactions in organic synthesis. We are specifically working with reactive silicon species, boron clusters, and complex phosphines.  In this context, we hope to address long-standing challenges in organic chemistry. Students working on these projects can expect to develop strong skills in chemical synthesis, spectroscopy, catalysis, and air-free technique.

Synthesis

As both a testing bed for synthetic methodology, and as a means to  broadly impact society through the preparation of bioactive small molecules, a major portion of research is dedicated to the total synthesis of secondary metabolites, as well as natural product-like small molecules.  Students working on these projects will receive training in both classical and modern methods in chemical synthesis.  Furthermore, students can expect to explore the biology of their targets through collaboration. 

Chemical Biology

Transition metal catalysts often have complementary reactivity to native biological catalysts. We are interested in developing new methods to incorporate transition metal catalysts into biological systems. In doing this, we aim to develop new regimes that will expand on the types of chemical transformations that can be performed in organisms, and utilize these chemical tools to better understand how these biological systems operate. Students working on these projects will receive training in chemical biology and organometallic chemistry.

Structural Chemistry 

Micro-crystal electron diffraction is a recently developed technique that allows the elucidation of high-resolution crystal structures to be obtained from crystals unsuitable for traditional X-ray crystallography. While the technique has been primarily used by structural biologists, we aim to bring this technology to the forefront of chemical research by developing methods that will make it more applicable to the practicing chemist, as well as using it to uncover new insights into structure and bonding across a vast array of molecules. Students working in this area will develop a strong understanding of crystallography, electron microscopy, and computational analysis.