Gregory O'Neil
Western Washington University, WA·Chemistry
Many medicines, proteins and polymers only work if their atoms have the right three-dimensional arrangement, known as stereochemistry. Making these molecules requires reactions that control exactly how new carbon atoms are arranged in space.
- Fields
Chemistry
- Topics
organic synthesis
synthetic organic chemistry
stereoselective synthesis
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Jun 2027
What they work on
- Develop stereoselective reactions using allyl organosamarium complexes, made from allylic benzoate esters or phenyl sulfones with samarium diiodide and water, to build stereogenic carbon atoms that are hard to make by other methods.
- Establish the scope and predictable control of stereoselectivity in these samarium-based reactions, explore their potential for catalysis, and deepen fundamental understanding of organosamarium chemistry.
- Create a four-day course-based research experience in which introductory organic chemistry students test how the structure of the starting material affects stereospecificity in organosamarium reactions.
More about the research
Such carbons, with four different groups attached, are called stereogenic carbons. They are hard to build cleanly, and better methods would help chemists in biology, materials science and medicine.
Why it matters
Reliable, easy-to-run reactions for building carbon atoms with a set three-dimensional arrangement could help chemists make medicines and other functional molecules, such as materials, that are hard to prepare today. Because the reactions tolerate water and need no special equipment, other labs and teaching labs could adopt them readily.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Kara Bren
University of Rochester, NY·Chemistry
Develop torquoselective and catalytic asymmetric 4-pi and 6-pi electrocyclizations of N-alkenylnitrones, where the direction of ring closure sets handedness, to make enantioenriched azetidine nitrones and oxazines.
Thomas Snaddon
Indiana University, IN·Chemistry
Develop enantioselective Lewis base-catalyzed reactions, using catalysts that donate an electron pair, to build fluorinated C(sp3) stereogenic centers while controlling which mirror-image form is made.
Brian Stoltz
California Institute of Technology, CA·Chemistry
Develop new stereoselective reactions that produce densely substituted, enantioenriched building blocks for synthesizing complex molecules.
The school
Western Washington University: 3 labs on PI Pages, $23M a year on research, 15 research doctorates a year.
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