Simon Meek
Associate Professor
Venable Hall 1307919-962-0359
sjmeek@unc.edu
Group Website
Curriculum Vitae
Research Interests
Organic Synthesis, Organometallic Chemistry, Catalysis
Research Synopsis
Research in my group is involved with the discovery, design, and development of new chiral catalysts and catalytic methods for chemical synthesis. We focus on developing practical and effective catalysts that enable the use of simple and abundant starting materials for useful carbon-carbon and carbon- heteroatom bond forming reactions.
We are interested in understanding reaction mechanisms, efficiency and selectivity, as well as demonstrating and challenging our catalytic transformations, reliablility, in efficient enantioselective total synthesis of complex biologically important molecules. Areas of interest in my research program include catalysis, stereoselective organic synthesis, and organometallic chemistry.
Professional Background
M.Chem., University of Sheffield, 2003; Ph.D., University of Sheffield, 2006; Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston College, 2006-2011
News & Publications
A practical method for the efficient and enantioselective preparation of versatile ketones and aldehydes that contain an α-quaternary stereocenter is described.
We have developed an efficient site- and stereoselective dicarbofunctionalization fragment coupling between aldehydes, dienes, and arylboronic acids for the synthesis of enantioenriched bis-homoallylic alcohols.