Title: "Stereoselective Synthesis with Organoboron Compounds"

Ming Chen, Associate Professor

Virginia Tech, Dept of Chemistry

Host: Yuan Zhang

Abstract: The seminar will focus on reaction development using organoboron compounds with the emphasis on stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. Applications in the context of complex molecule synthesis will be discussed as well.

Bio: Dr. Ming Chen is an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech, where he joined the faculty in August 2023. His research focuses on synthetic organic chemistry, particularly asymmetric catalysis using transition‑metal complexes and the total synthesis of bioactive natural products. [chem.vt.edu], [chengroup....hem.vt.edu]

He earned his Ph.D. at The Scripps Research Institute under Professor William R. Roush, specializing in boron chemistry and natural product synthesis. He then completed postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley with Professor John F. Hartwig, working on new methods for Ir‑catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution. [chengroup....hem.vt.edu]

Before joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Chen began his independent academic career at Auburn University in 2016. His current work advances asymmetric catalysis toward applications in pharmaceutical development, and he has been recognized with major honors including the NIH R35 MIRA Award, the NSF CAREER Award, and the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award