Visiting graduate student

Chemistry and Biotechnology

University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Graduate Student - Ph.D.

Organic Chemistry

The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, CA)

Graduate Student - D.Phil.

Biochemistry

University of Oxford (Oxford, UK)

Kyoko Nozaki, Véronique Gouverneur, Jin-Quan Yu

Transition Metal-Catalyzed C–H Bond Activation

As part of the overarching goal to streamline organic synthesis and thereby reduce the time and energy required to make pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other bioactive organic molecules, the development of reactions that convert simple, inexpensive starting materials into complex, desirable products is paramount. Though carbon–hydrogen bonds (C–H bonds) are ubiquitous in organic molecules, effective strategies for utilizing these groups as reaction partners remain elusive. Our group aims to overcome limitations in this arena using transition metal catalysts (Pd and Cu in particular). In an effort to make new C–H activation technology relevant in organic synthesis, our group pays special attention to the stereo-, regio-, and chemoselectivity in such transformations, with an broad emphasis on practicality and versatility.

2011 JSPS/NSF EAPSI Fellowship

2011 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award

2010 Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship (ACS GCI)

2008 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

2008 European Union IDECAT Fellowship

2008 Skaggs-Oxford Scholarship

2008 NDSEG Fellowship

2007 AIC Alumni Award

2007 Fulbright Scholarship

2006 Eli Lilly Organic Chemistry Award

2006 DAAD RISE Fellowship

2006 ACS Analytical Chemistry Award