Vanessa was born in southern California in 1983 and attended The University of California Riverside. She received her BS in Biochemistry with a chemistry emphasis in 2005. She worked for half a year in the Marsella group on the synthesis of cyclic enediynes(2003). Then, she worked twice as a summer intern in Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer Global Research and Development-La Jolla in 2004 and 2005. Her current project utilizes the group's catalytic hydrogenation chemistry in the synthesis of conagenin.

Venu Komanduri did his undergraduate (1996-1999) in Andhra Loyola College, India, then moved to the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, to obtain his Master's degree (1999-2001) under the guidance of Prof D.Lognathan. Then, he obtained a Master's degree (2002-2004) from Wayne State University in Detroit, under the supervision of Prof. Maarten Postema working on the synthesis of b-C-saccharide using ring closing metathesis. In Prof. Krische's group at UT-Austin, Venu is working on rhodium catalyzed cyclizations.

Publications

“Enantiomerically Enriched Allylic Alcohols and Allylic Amines via C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: Asymmetric Carbonyl and Imine Vinylation,” Skucas, E.; Ngai, M.-Y.; Komanduri, V.; Krische, M. J. Acc. Chem. Res. 2007, 40, In Press.

"Enantioselective Reductive Coupling of 1,3-Enynes to Heterocyclic Aromatic Aldehydes and Ketones via Rhodium Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Mechanistic Insight into the Role of BrØnsted Acid Additives." Komanduri, V.; Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 16448.

Email: vanessa.m.williams@mail.utexas.edu

Email: venu213@mail.utexas.edu

Chris was born in Detroit, Michigan and received his BS in chemistry from the University of Michigan in April 2006. At U of M he performed methodological and mechanistic studies on nucleophilic asymmetric catalysis of electronically diverse benzofuranones under Dr. Edwin Vedejs. His interests include developing new methods and natural product synthesis.

Soo Bong received his BS in Chemistry from Sogang University and his MS from KAIST in Korea. He is currently working on reductive aldol chemistry.

Publications

"Diastereo- and Enantioselective Hydrogenative Aldol Coupling of Vinyl Ketones: Design of an Effective Monodentate TADDOL-Like Phosphonite Ligand." Bee C.; Han, S. B.; Hassan, A.; Ioda, H.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 2746.

Reductive Aldol Coupling of Divinyl Ketones via Rhodium Catalyzed Hydrogenation: syn-Diastereoselective Construction of  beta-Hydroxyenones." Han, S. B.; Krische, M. J. Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 5657.

Email: chrisgra@mail.utexas.edu

Email: soobong75@mail.utexas.edu

Regan was born in Woodland, Washington in 1981. He obtained his BA in chemistry from Occidental College. While at Occidental College, Regan did three years of undergraduate research with Dr. Donald Deardorff involving the synthesis of enantiopure fluoxetine. Currenty, Regan is investigating new methodology involving catalytic 4+3 cycloadditions.

Publications

“Catalytic Enantioselective Reductive Cyclization of Acetylenic Aldehydes via Hydrogenation,” Rhee, J. U.; Jones, R. A.; Krische, M. J. Pract. Synth. Proc. 2007, In Press.

Abbas was born in Mardan, Pakistan and received his MS from University of Peshawar in 2004. There he performed master’s level research with Prof. M. Arfan towards the synthesis of Azaheterocyclic drugs. He than move to HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, where he worked with Prof. Khalid M. Khan  on Natural Product chemistry and towards the synthesis of Heterocyclic therapeutic agents. In Krische’s group he is currently working on Hydrogen Mediated Asymmetric Aldol chemistry.

Publications:

"Diastereo- and Enantioselective Hydrogenative Aldol Coupling of Vinyl Ketones: Design of an Effective Monodentate TADDOL-Like Phosphonite Ligand." Bee C.; Han, S. B.; Hassan, A.; Ioda, H.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 2746.

Email: jonesregan@yahoo.com

Email: abbashassankhan@yahoo.com

Ed was born and raised in Vilnuis, Lithuania. He attended Vilnuis University and in 2001 moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple University. There he performed undergraduate research under Dr. F. Davis working on asymmetric synthesis of isoquinolines and later on preparation of enantiopure a-amino-ketones. Ed currently works on reductive aldol chemistry.

Publications:

"Catalytic C-C Coupling via Transfer Hydrogenation: Reverse Prenylation, Crotylation and Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level." Bower, J.; Skucas, E.; Patman, R. L.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 15134.

“Enantiomerically Enriched Allylic Alcohols and Allylic Amines via C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: Asymmetric Carbonyl and Imine Vinylation,” Skucas, E.; Ngai, M.-Y.; Komanduri, V.; Krische, M. J. Acc. Chem. Res. 2007, 40, In Press.

“Carbonyl Allylation in the Absence of Preformed Allyl Metal Reagents: Reverse Prenylation via Iridium Catalyzed Hydrogenative Coupling of Dimethylallene,” Skucas, E.; Bower, J.; Krische, M. J.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 12644.

“Enantioselective Reductive Coupling of 1,3-Enynes to Glyoxalates Mediated by Hydrogen: Asymmetric Synthesis of β,γ-Unsaturated α-Hydroxy Esters,” Hong, Y.-T.; Cho, C.-W.; Skucas, E.; Krische, M. J. Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 3745.

“Contrasteric Regiocontrol in Rhodium Catalyzed Hydrogenative Couplings of Nonsymmetric 1,3-Diynes to Ethyl Glyoxalate,” Cho, C.-W.; Skucas, E.; Krische, M. J. Organometallics 2007, In Press.

Enantioselective Reductive Coupling of Acetylene to N-Arylsulfonyl Imines via Rhodium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: (Z)-Dienyl Allylic Amines." Skucas, E.; Kong, J.-R.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7242.

Pete was born in Cleveland, OH in 1981 and graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. in chemistry. There he performed undergraduate research under the direction of Dr. Leo Paquette for two years. He first worked on a methodology project exploring the cycloaddition chemistry of spirocyclic cycloheptatriene derivatives and then did senior thesis work revolving around the synthesis of the natural product, kendomycin. He is currently working on the total synthesis of quinine incorporating the group's methodology on catalytic enone cycloallylation.

Publications

"The Catalytic Asymmetric Stetter Reaction." Webber, P.; Krische, M.J. Chemtract 2007, 19, 262.

Email: eskucas@mail.utexas.edu

Email: webber35@yahoo.com

Cue obtained a Master's degree in organic chemisty at Seoul National University. He then came to UT Austin to obtain his Ph.D. in the Krische group. His interests include organic and transition metal catalysis.

Publications:

"Asymmetric Induction in Hydrogen-Mediated Reductive Aldol Additions to   alpha- Amino Aldehydes Catalyzed by Rhodium: Selective Formation of syn-Stereotriads Directed by Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding." Jung, C.-K.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 17051.

"Highly Syn-Diastereoselective Hydrogen-Mediated Aldol Reductive Coupling of Vinyl Ketones Catalyzed by Rhodium: A New Tri-2-furylphosphine Effect." Jung, C.-K.; Garner, S.A.; Krische, M.J. Org. Lett., 2006, 8, 519.

"Phosphine Mediated Reductive Condensation of gamma-Acyloxy Butynoates: A Diversity Oriented Strategy for the Construction of Substituted Furans," Wang, J.-C.; Jung, C.-K.; Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 4118.

Ming spent two years (2000-2002) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and then went to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for one year (2002 – 2003) exchange program. He finished his final year research project under the supervision of Dr. Van Nieuwenhze in UCSD. He obtained his B.S. degree from HKU in 2003 and then worked for Prof. Chi-Ming Che at HKU as research assistant. In August 2004, he joined the University of Texas at Austin and began his Ph.D. studies in Prof. Krische'’s group. His research focuses on intermolecular coupling reaction using catalytic hydrogenation conditions.

Publications

"Enantioselective Iridium Catalyzed Carbonyl Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Using Allyl Acetate as an Allyl Metal Surrogate." Kim, I. S.; Ngai, M, -Y.;  Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, In Press.

“Enantioselective Iridium Catalyzed Imine Vinylation: Optically Enriched Allylic Amines via Alkyne-Imine Reductive Coupling Mediated by Hydrogen,” Barchuk, A.; Ngai, M.-Y.; Krische, M. J. In Press.

“Enantiomerically Enriched Allylic Alcohols and Allylic Amines via C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: Asymmetric Carbonyl and Imine Vinylation,” Skucas, E.; Ngai, M.-Y.; Krische, M. J. Acc. Chem. Res. 2007, 40, In Press.

"Allylic Amines via Iridium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: Imine Vinylation in the Absence of Stoichiometric Byproducts or Metallic Reagents." Barchuk, A.; Nagi, M.-Y.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 8432.

"Iridium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Hydrogenation: Direct Regioselective Reductive Coupling of Alkyl-Substituted Alkynes to Activated Ketones." Nagi, M.-Y.; Barchuk, A.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 280.

"Hydrogen-Mediated C-C Bond Forming - A Broad New Concept in Catalytic C-C Coupling." Nagi, M.-Y.; Kong, J.-R; Krische, M.J. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 1063.

"Lessons in Green Chemistry from the Smallest of Molecules – C-C Bond Formation via Catalytic Hydrogenation." Ngai, M.-Y.; Krische, M. J. Chim. Oggi/Chemistry Today 2006, 24(4), 12.

"Highly Enantioselective Direct Reductive Coupling of Conjugated Alkynes and Alpha-Ketoesters via Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation." Kong, J.-R.; Ngai, M.-Y.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 718.

Email: cuejung@mail.utexas.edu

Email: hugonmy@mail.utexas.edu

Ryan was born in Elk City, Oklahoma in 1982 and attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He graduated in 2006 with a BS in Chemistry and during his time there he performed research under the guidance of Dr. Richard A. Bunce involving the synthesis of dibenzo[b.f]1,4-oxazepines and their 10,11-dihydro derivatives using tandem reduction-reductive amination reactions. His current research utilizes the Krische Group's hydrogen mediated C-C bond forming reactions employing Rhodium catalysts with a focus on regio- and stereoselective control.

"Iridium Catalyzed C-C Coupling via Transger Hydrogenation: Carbonyl Addition from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Employing 1,3-Cyclohexadiene." Bower, J. F.; Patman, R. L.; Krische, M.J. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 1033.

"Catalytic C-C Coupling via Transfer Hydrogenation: Reverse Prenylation, Crotylation and Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level." Bower, J.; Skucas, E.; Patman, R. L.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 15134.

Jason was born in New Jersey in 1984 and attended San Diego State University. He received his BS in Chemistry 2007. At SDSU he worked under the guidance of Dr. Mike Bergdahl involving the synthesis of Virginiamycin M1, synthesis of Micromide, and asymmetric 1,4 additions of monosilylzincates. He also worked twice as a summer intern in Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer Global Research and Development-La Jolla in 2006 and 2007 under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Lafontaine and Dr. Henry Chen. There he worked on the synthesis of several novel heterocycles for the treatment of glaucoma and cancer.  In the Krische group his current project utilizes the group's catalytic hydrogenation chemistry for the asymmetric synthesis of Sertraline.

Email: r.l.patman@mail.utexas.edu

Email: jasonzbieg@hotmail.com

Yu Lu was born in Jiangxi Province in China in 1983. He graduated from Fudan University with a B.S. in Chemistry. He then joined Dr. Susan Lever’s group in the University of Missouri, Columbia to obtain a M.S. in Chemistry. His project there involved the synthesis of substituted diarylalkylpiperidine and diarylalkylpiperazine analogues and evaluation of them as potent σ receptor binding ligands. He attended the University of Texas, Austin in 2007. His current project in Dr. Krische’s group is to synthesize Discodermolide by utilizing the catalytic hydrogenation chemistry developed in this group.

Email: luyu@mail.utexas.edu

John recevied his MSci in Chemistry form the University of Bristol, UK (1999-2003). During this time he spent 12 months working for AstraZeneca Process Chemistry and subsequently carried out his Masters research project under the guidance of Professor Guy Lloyd-Jones. He then remained at Bristol to undertake his PhD studies in the laboratory of Professor Timothy Gallagher (2003-2007) where he worked on th development of cyclic sulfamidate based N-heterocyclic methodologies and their application to the alkaloids, (-)-aphanorphine and (+)-laccarin. After obtaining his PhD he spent 3 months working for AstraZeneca Process Catalysis Group before starting his postdoc in the Krische lab where he works on the development of hydrogen mediated C-C bond forming reactions.

Publications:

"Ruthenium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation: Carbonyl Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Employing Acyclic 1,3-Dienes as Surrogates to Preformed Allyl Metal Reagents." Shibahara, F.; Bower, J. F.;  Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, In Press.

"Iridium Catalyzed C-C Coupling via Transger Hydrogenation: Carbonyl Addition from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Employing 1,3-Cyclohexadiene." Bower, J. F.; Patman, R. L.; Krische, M.J. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 1033.

"Catalytic C-C Coupling via Transfer Hydrogenation: Reverse Prenylation, Crotylation and Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level." Bower, J.; Skucas, E.; Patman, R. L.; Krische, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 15134.

“Carbonyl Allylation in the Absence of Preformed Allyl Metal Reagents: Reverse Prenylation via Iridium Catalyzed Hydrogenative Coupling of Dimethylallene,” Skucas, E.; Bower, J.; Krische, M. J.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129,12644.

Junji Itoh was born in Chiba, Japan in 1978, received his Ph.D. from Gakushuin University in 2007 under the guidance of Professor Takahiko Akiyama where he was working on chairal phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric synyhesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. During 2005-2007, he was selected as a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. In April 2007, he was working as a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Takahiko Akiyama’s group at Gakushuin University. His current research is development of metal-catalyzed C-C bond forming reactions in Prof. Krische’s research group.

Email: john_f_bower@hotmail.com

Email: junjiitoh1031@yahoo.co.jp

In Su Kim was born in Republic of Korea in 1975. He received his BS at the College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University in Republic of Korea in 2001. Also, he obtained his MS (2003) and Ph.D. (2006) under supervision of Prof. Young Hoon Jung at the College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, where he worked stereoselective amination using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI) and its application to the total synthesis of polyhydroxylated alkaloids. Also, he worked as a post-doctoral position of Brain Korea 21 (BK21) program funded by Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) for one year (Sep. 2006-Aug. 2007). In September 2007, he began his research in the Krische group as a postdoctoral fellow of Korea Research Foundation (KRF) and his research focuses on metal-catalyzed hydrogenative coupling reactions.

Publications:

"Enantioselective Iridium Catalyzed Carbonyl Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Using Allyl Acetate as an Allyl Metal Surrogate." Kim, I. S.; Ngai, M, -Y.;  Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, In Press.

“Iridium Catalyzed Hydrocarboxylation of 1,1-Dimethylallene: Byproduct-Free Reverse Prenylation of Carboxylic Acids,” Kim, I. S.; Krische, M. J. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 513.

Fumitoshi received his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in 2003 under the guidance of Professor Kyoko Nozaki and the supervision of Professor Tamejiro Hiyama where he worked on the asymmetric carbonylation of olefins catalyzed by polymer-supported chiral transition-metal complexes. During this period, he worked as a research fellow in Professor Nozaki group attached to JST for two and a half years. In April 2003, he joined Professor Toshiaki Murai's group at Gifu University as an assistant professor where he works on the development of metal-catalyzed transformations of thiocarbonyl compounds. He is currently working on the development of hydrogen-mediated C-C bond forming reactions in the Krische lab.

Publications:

"Ruthenium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation: Carbonyl Allylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level Employing Acyclic 1,3-Dienes as Surrogates to Preformed Allyl Metal Reagents." Shibahara, F.; Bower, J. F.;  Krische, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, In Press.

Email: insukim@skku.edu

Email: fshiba74717@hotmail.com

Quan  Truong was born in Vietnam. She attended high school in Houston, Texas. She is currently working on reductive aldol chemistry.

Allison was born in Henderson, TX and came to the University of Texas in 2005 to major in Chemistry. She is working under Ryan with hydrogen mediated carbon-carbon bond formations.

Email: quant@mail.utexas.edu

Email: ANPerricone@mail.utexas.edu

Olivia was born in Austin, TX. She is in her third year at UT, and is working with John.

Email: o.web@mail.utexas.edu