Our research group focuses on the development and mechanistic study of transition metal catalyzed reactions for the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds. We are particularly interested in using the unique reactivity of late transition metals to engineer reactions to provide access to interesting bond disconnections. Our current areas of interest are: novel directing group strategies for catalysis, CO₂ fixation, and C-H functionalization reactions.

Representative Key Publications:

Sun, X.; Frimpong, K.; Tan, K.L. “Synthesis of Quaternary Carbon Centers via Hydroformylation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 11841.

Worthy, A. D.; Gagnon, M. M.; Dombrowski, M. T.; Tan, K. L. “Regioselective Hydroformylation of Sulfonamides using a Scaffolding Ligand.” Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 2764.

Ligthburn, T.E.; Dombrowski, M.T.; Tan, K.L. “Catalytic Scaffolding Ligands: An Efficient Strategy for Directing Reactions.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 9210.