Research in organic chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill covers a broad range of subjects from synthetic methods development to the design of materials with functions inspired by biological systems. Research is often interdisciplinary and involves science at the frontiers of polymer chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science and bioorganic chemistry.

With nine faculty members formally in the organic division and a number of faculty members from other divisions whose research involves organic chemistry, graduate students find they have a wide range of choices for their doctoral research.

• Synthetic Methods Development
• Natural Products Synthesis
• Chemical Catalysis
• Bioorganic Chemistry
• Molecular Photochemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Molecular Recognition
• Chemical Biology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Polymer Synthesis and Functionalization

11C-, 12C-, and 13C-cyanation of electron-rich arenes via organic photoredox catalysis

Here, we disclose a mild organophotoredox-catalyzed method for efficient cyanation of a broad spectrum of electron-rich arenes, including abundant and readily available veratroles and pyrogallol trimethyl ethers.

Tunable and Switchable Catalysis Enabled by Cation-Controlled Gating with Crown Ether Ligands

In this Account, the development of design principles for achieving cation-controlled catalysis is described.

Observationally Constrained Modeling of the Reactive Uptake of Isoprene-Derived Epoxydiols under Elevated Relative Humidity and Varying Acidity of Seed Aerosol Conditions

Here, we use simultaneous environmental chamber measurements of multiple parameters governing IEPOX-SOA formation at timescales of ∼hours: particle size distribution, composition, and volatility of IEPOX-SOA to constrain the key parameters governing IEPOX-SOA formation under humid (i.e., 50% relative humidity, RH) and varying seed aerosol acidity conditions.