معرفی
Dennis P. Curran is a Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, renowned for pioneering contributions in organic synthesis, radical chemistry, and fluorous chemistry. His work has redefined the application of radicals in synthesis, including landmark total syntheses like hirsutene and camptothecin. He invented fluorous tagging and fluorous solid phase extraction (FSPE), revolutionizing separation techniques. Recently, his group focuses on N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes), exploring their roles in radical, ionic, and metal-catalyzed reactions.
Education:
- B.S. in Chemistry from Boston College (1975)
- Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Rochester (1979)
- Postdoctoral studies with Barry Trost at the University of Wisconsin
Research Interests: Curran’s research spans radical cascade reactions, atom transfer radical processes, fluorous chemistry, and ligated borane reagents. His innovations in fluorous mixture synthesis enabled the creation of natural product libraries. Radical trans-hydroboration and stereoselective reactions highlight his lab’s focus on synthetic efficiency and functional group tolerance.
Awards:
- 2015 Ernest Guenther Award
- 2009 Fellow of the American Chemical Society
- 2000 ACS Award for Creative Work in Organic Synthesis
- 1988 Cope Scholar Award
Advising & Leadership: Curran has mentored numerous students and holds editorial roles in key journals. His service includes chairing the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry (2000) and contributing to landmark chemistry initiatives like the Gomberg Centenary Symposium.
Labs & Collaborations: His lab at the University of Pittsburgh continues to develop novel reagents and methodologies, with ongoing projects in borylation reactions, photocatalytic systems, and fluorous chemistry applications.
