Donald A. Watson

Donald A. Watson is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware, College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on inventing new transition-metal catalyzed methods for organic synthesis, particularly introducing heteroatoms into organic molecules, which has applications in pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, and biological process studies.

• B.S., 1998, University of California, San Diego
• Ph.D., 2004, University of California, Irvine
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004–2006, University of California, Berkeley
• Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006–2009, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

His group emphasizes transition-metal catalysis, especially palladium and nickel, for cross-coupling reactions and heteroatom introduction. Key contributions include the Silyl-Heck, Silyl-Negishi, and Boryl-Heck reactions, with a focus on ligand development, mechanistic understanding, and applications in medicinal chemistry.

Recent publications highlight advancements in nickel photoredox dual-catalysis, atroposelective couplings, and asymmetric synthesis of chiral ligands. The group also explores analytical techniques like low-cost mass spectrometry for enantiomeric analysis and high-throughput experimentation.

As an academic leader, Watson directs a collaborative research team developing reactions for pharmaceutical synthesis, energy materials, and environmentally sustainable chemistry. His work bridges fundamental organometallic studies with practical applications in organic synthesis.