معرفی
Brandon Ashfeld is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame, where he has held progressively senior roles since 2007, including Director of Graduate Studies (2016–2020). His research spans two transformative areas: the design of organic synthesis methods for unconventional bond formations and the development of energy-efficient carbon capture materials.
- Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry (University of Texas at Austin, 2004), B.S. in Chemistry (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1998)
Research in synthesis focuses on creating novel catalytic systems for constructing complex molecules. Key projects include:
- Tandem titanocene/aldehyde reactions for scalable synthesis of tertiary carbon centers in anticancer natural products like diarylheptanoids and glycosidic marine toxins.
- Phosphorus-mediated C–C and C–N bond formations to replace traditional transition metal reagents in Csp²–N and Csp²–C coupling.
- Development of proline-squaraine ligands for stereoselective Rh(II) cyclopropanations and squaraine-derived ylide chemodosimeters for transition metal detection.
Carbon capture research aims to design regenerative materials using N-heterocyclic anions/carbenes for super-stoichiometric CO₂ absorption with minimal energy input. His publications highlight innovative strategies in (4+1)-cycloadditions, stereoconvergent annulations, and pseudoaromaticity-driven sensing.
Scientific recognition includes the NSF CAREER Award (2011), Notre Dame Faculty Scholarship Award (2009), and the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2015).
