faculty

Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Colorado State University

Organic, Organometallic Chemistry, Complex Molecule Synthesis

Phone: (734) 764-4424
E-mail: jmontg@umich.edu

Research Group

Our research program focuses on the discovery of new transition metal-catalyzed reactions, the development of useful synthetic methods, the application of these new reactions in complex molecule synthesis, and mechanistic studies designed to understand the new processes developed in our laboratories. A major focus of our research program in recent years has been the development of new reactions involving nickel catalysis. In particular, our lab has discovered a series of new reactions that involve the reductive coupling of two different unsaturated moieties in a Ni(0)-catalyzed process. A broad range of pi-systems, including aldehydes, enones, alkynes, allenes, and dienes, are effective participants in this group of reactions. The challenges addressed by the new reactions being developed in our group include the stereoselective introduction of exocyclic double bonds and the stereoselective preparation of polycyclic ring systems that possess multiple contiguous stereocenters. Precise control of catalyst structure and reaction conditions allows a wide array of reaction pathways to be accessed from simple, readily available starting materials. A variety of natural products have been synthesized in our laboratories using these methods, including isodomoic acids G and H, allopumiliotoxins 339A and 339B, and testudinariol A.

We have recently discovered a new three-component cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of complex seven-membered rings by a [4+2+1] cycloaddition pathway involving diazoalkanes, alkynes, and dienes. We are actively pursuing the development of new cycloaddition processes based on the novel reactivities uncovered, and we plan to develop applications of these new reactions in complex molecule total synthesis.

A third area of interest is the discovery of new three-component coupling processes involving conjugate addition strategies that avoid the use of metallated nucleophiles. The sensitive nature of organocuprates often limits their utility in synthesis, and we have initiated a program to allow stable and commercially available aryl iodides to be directly utilized in conjugate additions.

AWARDS

• ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award
• Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award
• National Science Foundation Career Award
• Johnson and Johnson Focused Giving Grantee

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

1. Ni, Y.; Montgomery, J. "Synthetic Studies and Mechanistic Insight in Nickel-Catalyzed [4+2+1] Cycloadditions" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 2609.

2. Liu, L.; Montgomery, J. "Dimerization of Cyclopropyl Ketones and Crossed Reactions of Cyclopropyl Ketones with Enones as an Entry to Five Membered Rings" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 5348.

3. Herath, A.; Thompson, B. B.; Montgomery, J. "Catalytic Intermolecular Reductive Coupling of Enones and Alkynes," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 8712.

4. Chaulagain, M.; Sormunen, G.; Montgomery, J. "New N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand and Its Application in Asymmetric Nickel-Catalyzed Aldehyde/Alkyne Reductive Couplings" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 9568.

5. Herath, A.; Li, W.; Montgomery, J. "Fully Intermolecular Nickel-Catalyzed Three-Component Couplings Via Internal Redox," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 469.

6. Chrovian, C. C.; Knapp-Reed, B.; Montgomery, J. "Total Synthesis of Aigialomycin D: Surprising Chemoselectivity Dependence on Alkyne Structure in Nickel-Catalyzed Cyclizations" Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 811.