Steve Burke

Steve Burke is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in synthetic organic chemistry with a focus on biologically active natural products. His research develops innovative synthetic methods and strategies for complex molecule construction.

• Education:
  • B.S., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1973)
  • Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (1978)

Key research areas include asymmetric hydroformylation, ring-closing metathesis, ketalization, and symmetry-breaking strategies. Collaborative work with the Landis group explores Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation for complex natural product synthesis, such as phorboxazole B and dictyostatin.

Recent publications emphasize atom-economical catalytic processes, stereoselective tandem reactions, and preorganization principles in synthesizing bioactive scaffolds like macrolides and polyether frameworks. His work bridges organic synthesis and bioorganic chemistry, targeting pharmaceutical applications and method development.

Scientific contributions include

• Asymmetric hydroformylation cascades for brevity in natural product synthesis
• Development of chiral bis(diazaphospholane) ligands
• Strategies for symmetry exploitation in complex molecule design