David MacMillan has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. Congrats Dave!
News Archive
David MacMillan has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Congrats Dave!
The group publishes a review of recent developments in the field of synergistic catalysis. Congrats Anna! [Chem. Sci.]
The group publishes an approach for the trifluoromethylation of arenes and heteroarenes using photoredox catalysis. Congrats David! [Nature]
The group publishes the development of an α-amino C–H arylation reaction discovered using the strategy of accelerated serendipity. Congrats Andy and Chris! [Science]
The group publishes an enantioselective method for the α-oxidation of aldehydes using TEMPO in conjunction with Cu(II) and organic catalysis. Congrats Scott and Jeff! [Chem. Sci.]
The group publishes an enantioselective approach to the α-arylation of lactones and acyl oxazolidones using iodonium salts and Cu(I)-bisoxazoline catalysis. Congrats James, Scott and Chris! [JACS]
The group publishes the synthesis of Strychnos, Aspidosperma and Kopsia alkaloids achieved through organocascade catalysis. Congrats Spencer, Bryon and Tony! [Nature]
The group publishes a photoredox approach for the α-trifluoromethylation of ketones, esters and amides. Congrats Phong and David! [Angew. Chem.]
The group publishes an enantioselective approach to the intramolecular α-allylation of aldehydes using SOMO catalysis. Congrats Phong and Kate! [Chem. Sci.]
The group publishes an enantioselective approach to the α-arylation of aldehydes using iodonium salts in conjunction with organocatalysis. Congrats Anna! [JACS]
Thomson Reuters ranks the group #16 among the world’s Top 100 Chemistry Research Groups, based on the impact of our publications over the past ten years. [ScienceWatch] Congrats Dave & the entire group!
Dave wins the ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. He will receive the prize at the 241st ACS National Meeting in Anaheim, CA. Congrats Dave!
The group reports the first highly enantioselective α-fluorination of ketones using organocatalysis. [JACS] Congrats Piotr, Teresa, & Jay!
Dave receives the 2011 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award, in recognition of contributions to the sustainable development of chemistry and the chemical industry.
The group publishes the total synthesis of diazonamide A through the development of an iminium-catalyzed alkylation-cyclization cascade in combination with a palladium-catalyzed tandem borylation/macrocyclization sequence. Congrats Rob, Joe, Simon, Akio, Ian, and Chris! [Chem. Sci.]
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences prints a special feature on organocatalysis. An introduction to this issue is provided by Guest Editors, Eric Jacobsen and David MacMillan. [Cover Art]
The group publishes an efficient method to prepare the trans-Me,tBu organocatalyst previously used in photoredox and α-chlorination methodologies. Congrats Tom and Benji! [Organic Syntheses]
The group's development of a family of imidazolidinone organocatalysts capable of performing direct, asymmetric, SOMO α-functionalizations of ketones appears in a special feature on organocatalysis in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Congrats Tony, Alex, and Abbas! [PNAS]
The group publishes an enantioselective approach to the α-benzylation of aldehydes via photoredox organocatalysis. Congrats Hui-Wen, Mark, and Rebecca! [JACS]
The move to the New Chemistry Building is complete! Research in the MacMillan Group is up to full speed again in Frick Laboratory.
See Latest News Feature & Building Stats
Congratulations to Dr. Christoforos Kokotos, who has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the University of Athens in Greece!
In collaboration with the Flowers group, the group reports on the mechanistic complexity in organo-SOMO activation. [Angewandte] Congrats James & Jay!
The group publishes a manuscript concerning the mechanism of the FeCl3-catalyzed α-oxyamination of aldehydes. [JACS] Congrats Jeff, Scott, & Rob!
The group reports an enantioselective SOMO-cascade cycloaddition strategy to access carbocycles from aldehydes and olefins. [JACS] Congrats Nate & Esther!
David MacMillan becomes chairperson of the Chemistry Department as we prepare for the move to the new building. Congrats Dave!
The 2010 Princeton University Art of Science Exhibition awards the second prize to a contribution from our group featuring a photo of the experimental setup for photoredox catalysis. Featured by The Boston Globe & MSNBC. Congrats David!
The group reports the organocatalytic three-step total synthesis of (+)-frondosin B in the new journal, Chemical Science. [publication] [explanatory interview with Dave] Congrats Maud, Staffan, & Sandy!
The group reports on a collaboration with the Houk group to elucidate the nature of the intermediates in the Organo-SOMO catalyzed α-arylation of aldehydes. Congrats Joann, Osvaldo, & Franziska! [JACS]
The 2nd Merck Catalysis Symposium @ Princeton University will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. For registration and other info, please visit the Symposium Website.
The group publishes a novel approach to enantioselective polyene cyclizations via organo-SOMO catalysis. Congrats Sebastian! [JACS]
The group reports a non-photolytic approach to the enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes, via the merger of iodonium salts & organocatalysis. Congrats Anna! [JACS]
The group's Nine-Step Synthesis of (+)-Minfiensine & development of an Enantioselective a-Trifluoromethylation of Aldehydes are among the Most Read JACS Articles in 2009. Congrats Spencer, Bryon, David, & Mark!
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis highlights the group's recent developments in the arena of organocatalysis as their journal cover throughout 2010. [ASC Journal] [Cover Image]
The group reports a nine-step, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-minfiensine. Congrats Spencer & Bryon! [link]
The Royal Society of Chemistry unveils its newest flagship journal, Chemical Science, at the Fall ACS Meeting, and names Dave as the Editor-in-Chief. Congrats Dave!
The group's work on the enantioselective, organocatalytic α-arylation of aldehydes via SOMO organocatalysis is published. Congrats Jay, Jongrock, & Brian! [JACS]
The group reports the first enantioselective, organocatalytic α-nitroalkylation of aldehydes via oxidative organocatalysis. Congrats Jon & Anthony! [link]
The group publishes the first enantioselective, organocatalytic α-trifluoromethylation of aldehydes via photoredox organocatalysis. Congrats David & Mark! [JACS]
The group reports a new strategy for "enantioselective linchpin catalysis" facilitated by a novel SOMO α-chlorination procedure employing NaCl & LiCl. Congrats Muriel, Teresa, and Sean! [Angew]
The group's work on cycle-specific organocascade catalysis is published, with applications to olefin hydroamination, hydro-oxidation, amino-oxidation, and natural product synthesis. Congrats Bryon and Abbas![Angew]
The group reports a process for the rapid removal of dialkylamino-substituents from aromatic rings, and an application to the expedient synthesis of (R)-tolterodine. Congrats Nick and Bryon! [link]
Congratulations to Dr. David Nicewicz, who has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina! [link]
The group reports the first enantioselective, organocatalytic carbo-oxidation of styrenes via SOMO Catalysis. Congrats Tom, Casey, & Nate! [link]
Photoredox organocatalysis has been featured on New Jersey News. View the video clip [here]
Congratulations to Dr. Trevor Rainey, who has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at Montana State University! [link]
The group reports the enantioselective α-enolation of aldehydes via SOMO catalysis. Congrats Hye-Young and J-B! [link]
We are pleased to announce that the 1st annual Merck Research Symposium @ Princeton University will be held on May 1, 2008. Find more details [here]
The group reports the total synthesis & a structural revision of callipeltoside C. Congrats Joe, Alan, deMichael, Jake, & Sung-Gon! [link]
The group's manuscript on organocatalytic conjugate additions using vinyl and heteroaryl trifluoroborate salts is a top ten Most-Accessed Article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (Oct-Dec 2007). Congrats Sandy! [link]
For the second consecutive time, the group's enantioselective organo-cascade catalysis manuscript is rated as the #1 most cited paper at JACS, earning it the title of hottest paper at JACS. Congrats Yong, Abbas, and Catharine! [link]
The group publishes the first use of vinyl and heteroaryl trifluoroborate salts as viable substrates for amine-catalyzed conjugate additions. Congrats Sandy! [link]
SOMO catalysis has been featured on television on the local New Jersey News. See the video clip [here]
The group's work on SOMO catalysis will be published in an upcoming issue of Science. [link] Congrats Teresa, Tony, J-B, and Kate!
The group's reductive amination paper was the second most cited paper in 2006 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Congratulations Ian, Yike and Diane! [link]
Dave will receive the ISHC Katritzky Junior Award in Heterocyclic Chemistry and will give the honorary lecture in July, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. [see previous awardees]
Dave is chosen for a 2007 Arthur C. Cope Scholars Award. The award presentation will be at the ACS National meeting in Boston in August, 2007.
Dave wins the Mukaiyama Award, which will be presented by the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry in September 2007 on Awaji Island in Japan.
The group’s move to Princeton University is complete! The MacMillan Group is now established in Frick Laboratory.
Organo-cascade Catalysis paper is the 3rd Most-Accessed Article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (Oct-Dec 2005). Good job Yong, Abbas, and Catharine! [link]
Tristan Lambert (MacMillan Group Ph.D., 2003) accepts faculty position at Columbia University.
Vy Maria Dong (MacMillan Group Ph.D., 2003) accepts a faculty position at the University of Toronto.
MacMillan group is moving to Princeton (Sept. 2006). Prospective graduate students interested in applying to the Princeton organic chemistry program, please make inquiries directly to Dave. [e-mail]
Dave wins the Thieme-IUPAC Prize in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Will accept at the International Conference on Organic Chemistry. [previous awardees] [award announcement]
Three group papers in the top 10 Most-Accessed Articles in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (Jan-Jun 2005). Good job Ian, Stephane, Jamie and Roxanne. [link]
Dave is awarded a 2004 Corday-Morgan Medal by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He will receive the award in Birmingham in November 2005.
Simon Blakey (MacMillan Group Postdoctoral Scholar, 2005) accepts a faculty position at Emory University.
Dave wins the first ever Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award. He will receive the award in Bordeaux, France in June 2005.
Tehshik Yoon (MacMillan Group Ph.D., 2002) accepts a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin.
Dave wins the EJ Corey Award. Will accept at a special symposium at the San Diego ACS meeting.
