Research Statement
Our group focuses on synthetic chemistry. For example, we utilize phenyl and vinyl carbocations in novel C?H functionalization reactions. We have shown that these high-energy dicoordinated carbocations can be generated under mild conditions and utilized in the selective C?C bond forming reactions of simple hydrocarbons. Our efforts to understand the mechanism of these reactions centers on various techniques including computational chemistry, physical organic chemistry, electron microscopy, and isotopic labeling studies.
