September 2018: We publish our synthesis of “FTI”. This is the first synthesis of a polycyclic molecule with three different heterocyclic rings arrayed around a central benzene core. Link.
September 2018: Our paper appears on a bimolecular [2 + 2 + 2] strategy for the synthesis of pyridines based on a cascade process involving a propargylic ene reaction and an aza Diels-Alder reaction with tosyl cyanide. Link.
August 2018: Our paper on the synthesis of the polyacetylene natural product deca-4,6,8-triynol appears. This work was the result of a collaboration with the lab of Maique Weber Biavatti at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Brazil. Link.
December 2017: Welcome to new member of the lab, first-year grad student Nathan Faialaga.
December 2017: Welcome to new member of the lab, first-year grad student Christian Gomez.
December 2017: Our publication on aza Diels-Alder reactions of nitriles, N,N-dimethylhydrazones, and oximino ethers appears as a “Featured Article” in JOC. Our cascade process provides a formal metal-free [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition route to multisubstituted pyridines. Link.
August 2016: See our contribution to the important discussion of reproducibility published in Angewandte. Questions we address in this editorial include: To what extent is reproducibility a significant issue in chemical research? How can problems involving irreproducibility be minimized? Link.
June 2018: MIT undergraduate Dayanne Carvalho joins the group- welcome Dayanne!
August 2016: Congratulations to Sam and James for their article on an efficient synthesis of iodopropyne featuring a detailed protocol for purification of the product by low-temperature recrystallization. Link.
June 2016: Our paper on the synthesis of highly substituted aromatic compounds using our photochemical benzannulation method has appeared. This article includes a detailed description of the continuous flow reactor that facilitates carrying out photochemical benzannulations on a preparative scale. Link.
August 2015: Our paper on the synthesis of very highly substituted quinolines appears in a special issue celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Woodward-Hoffmann rules. The key benzannulation step involves a cascade of up to four pericyclic reactions. Congratulations to Tom and Paul. Link.
June 2015: MIT Undergraduate René Garcia joins the lab to work on the iodoalkyne project. Welcome René!
June 2015: Our publication on the synthesis of phosphoramidates by a modified Todd-Atherton reaction and their copper-catalyzed alkynylation to form phosphoryl ynamides has appeared. Congratulations to John Read and Yu-Pu Wang. Link.
February 2015: Congratulations to James and Yu-Pu for their publication on the synthesis of a useful propargyl acetal synthon. Link.
November 2014: Welcome to the newest member of our lab, first-year grad student Sam Bartko.
October 2014: Our paper describing the first synthesis of a strained cyclic ynamide appears in JACS. This remarkable azacyclohexyne undergoes a variety of highly regioselective addition, insertion, and cycloaddition reactions. Link.
August 2014: Welcome to Marko Hermsen, joining our lab after study at RWTH University Aachen.
August 2014: Professor Rick Danheiser has been awarded the 2014 MIT School of Science Prize for Graduate Education.
June 2014: Our lab welcomes Vanessa Rocha Machado, who joins our group from the lab of Professor Maique Biavatti at the Universidade de Santa Catarina in Brazil.
June 2014: Our lab welcomes Leandro Espindola, joining us from the lab of Professor Moacir Pizzolatti at the Universidade de Santa Catarina in Brazil.
May 2014: Welcome to Thibault Guez, a visiting student for the summer from The École Polytechnique where he has worked with Professor Sam Zard.
March 2014: Two new poison dart frogs join the group! Shown here is Woodward, a young Dendrobates tinctorius (Patricia morph).
March 2014: Hoffmann, our Dendrobates tinctorius (“Cobalt” morph) froglet.
March 2014: Dr. Ilia Korboukh (PhD with Steve Weinreb at Penn State) joins the group as a postdoctoral fellow. Welcome Ilia!
October 2013: Our paper on batch and flow photochemical benzannulations is is published in JOC. Congratulations Tom, Yu-Pu, and the other members of the benzannulation team! Link.
August 2013: Our paper on the synthesis of indoles via a tandem benzannulation cyclization strategy is published in JOC. Congratulations Tammy and Yu-Pu! Link.
August 2013: With sadness we report the passing of Diels, one of our lab’s two pet poison dart frogs. Meanwhile, Alder appears to continue to enjoy good health. Rest in Peace Diels.
July 2013: Stephanie Tumidajski receives her Ph.D. for her thesis on iminoacetonitrile cycloadditions and alkaloid synthesis and moves to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an EHS professional.
June 2013: Tom Willumstad receives his Ph.D. for his work on benzannulation methodology and the synthesis of quinolines and carbazoles and joins Dow Chemicals in Texas.
June 2013: Clarissa Forneris graduates from MIT. Clarissa receives the Chem Dept ACS Organic Chemistry Award and Strem Prize for Undergraduate Research. After a year off, Clarissa will begin grad work at Princeton.