Jon Tunge

Jon Tunge is a Professor holding the Richard S. Givens Chair in Chemistry and serving as Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kansas. His research program focuses on innovative synthetic methodologies in organic chemistry with significant contributions to the field.

Dr. Tunge's research interests include:

• Decarboxylative Metalation Reactions in Organic Synthesis
• Combinatorial Synthesis through Catalytic Hydroarylation
• C-H functionalization for heterocyclic structure synthesis
• Mechanistic studies of C-H functionalizations

His work centers on developing catalytic methods for organic synthesis, particularly through decarboxylative processes that provide thermodynamic driving forces under mild conditions. Recent research has focused on cobalt-catalyzed reactions including decarboxylative allylations, difluoroalkylations, and other transformations that enable the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on creating efficient synthetic pathways with applications in pharmaceutical development.

Dr. Tunge holds the prestigious Richard S. Givens Chair in Chemistry, an endowed position recognizing his significant scholarly contributions to the field of organic chemistry.

As Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, Dr. Tunge plays a key leadership role in mentoring and guiding graduate students through their academic and research careers in the Chemistry department, shaping the next generation of chemists.

He leads the active Tunge Research Group, which maintains a strong publication record and focuses on developing new synthetic methodologies with practical applications in pharmaceutical and materials chemistry.