Shaughnessy Group Alumni

Post-Doctoral Associates

BS (magna cum laude), Western Illinois University (1992)
PhD, University of Iowa (2002)

Dr. Michael Sliger is a native of Iowa. He earned his PhD at the University of Iowa under the direction of Prof. Darrell Eyman. His dissertation was entitled "Affecting Reactivity of Novel Organomanganese Species through the Manipulation of a Metallostereoelectronic Effect." He joined the Shaughnessy group in 2002. Michael's work focused on the development of new sterically demanding ligands and fundamental studies of the effect of ionic liquids on organometallic reactivity. In 2004, he moved to Wesleyan University as a post-doctoral associate in the lab of Prof. Joseph Bruno. In 2006, Michael began working for Aerogel, Inc on the development of carbon aerogel materials. In 2007, he moved to the lithium battery division of Duracell, Inc.

J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 1478-1486
J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 3540-3545

Graduate Students

BS, Seoul National University, Korea (1989)
MS, Seoul National University, Korea (1992)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2007)

Joon-Hyung Cho is a native of South Korea. After earning BS and MS degrees at Seoul National University in Korea, Joon joined the chemistry program at UA in August 2002. Soon after, he joined the Shaughnessy group. Joon's research has focused on the modification of unprotected halogenated nucleosides using water-soluble palladium catalysts. He as developed methodologies for the alkynylation (Sonogashira coupling) and alkenylation (Heck coupling) of halonucleosides. Joon has also developed the first examples of Pd-catalyzed aryl selenylation. Joon graduated with his PhD degree in December 2007. He is currently a post-doctoral associate with Prof. Scott Gilbertson at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX.

Dissertation: Part I. Palladium -Catalyzed Alkenylation and Alkynylation of Nucleosides in Aqueous Media. Part II. Palladium-Catalyzed Carbon-Selenium Bond formation for Unsymmetrical Diselenides

Main Group Chem. 2007, 6, 201-214

BS, University of Kentucky (2001)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2006)

Justin is a native of Kentucky and received his BS degree from UK in 2001. That summer he joined the Shaughnessy group. Justin's research focused largely on the effect of ionic liquids on organometallic reactivity. He studied olefin polymerization reactions in ILs as well as the kinetics of oxidative addition of methyl iodide to Vaska's complex. Upon completing his PhD, Justin joined Dr. Hans Schanz's lab at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he worked on developing aqueous-phase olefin polymerization catalysts. He has recently accepted a joint post doctoral position between Methodist Hospital's Methodist Research Institute with Dr. Daniel Sliva and Dr. Robert Minto at Indiana Universitry-Purdue University at Indianapolis

Dissertation: Polar, Weakly Coordinating Ionic Liquids as Solvents for Fundamental Organometallic Reactions

Ionic Liquids as Green Solvents, ACS Symposium Series, 2003, 300-313
J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 3522-3528
J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 3540-3545

Lucas R. Moore

BS, University of West Alabama (2002)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2006)

Lucas is a native of Mississippi and attended the University of West Alabama. He joined the Shaughnessy group in the summer of 2002. Lucas has been involved in a variety of projects during his time at UA. He worked on the catalytic application of sulfonated ortho-substituted arylphosphines and t-Bu-Amphos in aqueous-phase cross-coupling reactions. He also developed the first examples of hydrophilic N-heterocyclic carbene precursors with anionic substituents. Upon completing his PhD at UA, Lucas joined the lab of Dr. Dave Vicic at the University of Arkansas as a post-doctoral associate. Lucas recently began a position as a Senior Process Development Chemist for the Plastics and Adhesives division of Ciba Specialty Chemicals in Mobile Alabama. Lucas has two sons, Jacob and Ryan.

Dissertation: Ligand Design and Application Toward Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 225-228
J. Org. Chem., 2004, 69, 7919-7927
J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 5117-5125
Organometallics 2006, 25, 5151-5158
Organometallics, 2008, 27, 576-593

Elizabeth C. Western

BS, Middle Tennessee State University (2001)
MS, The University of Alabama (2004)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2005)

Beth grew up in Dyersburg, TN and earned a double major in Music (Voice) and Chemistry at MTSU. She entered the graduate program in the fall of 2001 and joined the Shaughnessy group. Beth's research focused on the catalytic modification of nucleosides using water-soluble catalyst systems. She developed efficient methods for Suzuki coupling of halonucleosides and elucidated the mechanism by which guanine inhibits the catalyst system in these reactions. Beth earned a thesis masters in 2004. Her thesis was named the Outstanding Master's Thesis by the College of Arts & Sciences. In 2005, Beth completed her dissertation. Her dissertation was named the UA Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in 2007. Upon graduating from UA, Beth entered the UA School of Medicine where she has just completed her 2nd year. She will start her clinical rotations back in Tuscaloosa in summer 2007. Beth is married to Daniel Western.

Thesis (2004): Efficient Modification of Halonucleosides Using Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling in Aqueous Media. College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Masters Thesis, 2005
Dissertation (2005): Palladium-Catalyzed Modification of Halonucleosides: Methodology Development and Mechanism Determination. University of Alabama Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, 2007

J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 6767-6774
J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 6378-6388
Organometallics, 2008, 27, 576-593

BS, Hangzhou University (1989)
MS, Hangzhou University (1992)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2005)

Rongcai is a native of China. He came to UA in the fall of 2001 as a member of the Shaughnessy group. Rongcai's work covered a range of topics, including: asymmetric hydrogenation of imines and ketones, development of enzyme based assays for high-throughput enantioselectivity screening, synthesis and catalytic application of water-soluble palladacycles, and Rh-catalyzed coupling of aldehydes and boronic acids in aqueous solvents. Upon finishing his PhD at UA, Rongcai accepted a postdoctoral associate position with Prof. Brian Frost at the University of Nevada-Reno.

Dissertation (2005): Part I. Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Acetophenone Using Titanium Catalysts; Part II. Synthesis of Water-Soluble Palladacycles and Their Applications to the Suzuki Reaction; Part III. Rhodium-Catalyzed Addition of Aryl and Alkenylboronic Acids to Aldehydes

Synth. Comm. 2002, 32, 1923-1928
Chem. Commun. 2005, 4484-4486
J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 5117-5125
Organometallics, 2006, 25, 4105-4112

BS, The University of Alabama (2000)
PhD, The University of Alabama (2004)

Rebecca is a native of Talladega, AL, and received her BS degree at UA. She stayed at UA and joined the Shaughnessy group in the fall of 2000. Her research focused on the application of water-soluble, sterically demanding phosphines in aqueous-phase coupling reactions and efforts to understand the coordination chemistry of these ligands. In 2004, Rebecca became the first person to complete a PhD in the Shaughnessy group. Upon graduation, Rebecca joined the faculty of Rose-Hulmann Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN as a visiting assistant professor. The next year, she was hired permanently as a tenure-track assistant professor. Rebecca is married to Michael DeVasher.

Dissertation (2004): Water-Soluble Alkylphosphines as Ligands in Palladium-Ctalyzed Aqueous-Phase Cross-Coupling Reactions: Mechanistic Advances and Catalytic Activity

Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 2757-2759
J. Org. Chem., 2004, 69, 7919-7927
Organometallics, 2005, 24, 962-971
Curr. Org. Chem., 2005, 9, 585-604

Undergraduate Students

BS, The University of Alabama (2008)

Ellie is a native of Birmingham, AL. She graduated from UA in May 2008 with a degree in chemistry. Ellie was a member of the University Honors Program and Gamma Sigma Epsilon. She joined the Shaughnessy group in fall 2007 and worked on Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions using water-soluble phosphines. She is a 2007 inductee into Gamma Sigma Epsilon. She presented her work at the spring 2008 national ACS meeting. Ellie has been accepted to the UA School of Medicine for fall 2008.

BS, The University of Alabama (2008)

Nick is a native of Montevallo, AL. He joined the Shaughnessy group for the spring 2008 semester. His research involved the use of Pd-allyl complexes in C-N bond forming reactions. Nick is a 2007 inductee to Gamma Sigma Epsilon. He graduated summa cum laude in May 2008 with a degree in Chemistry. Nick will attend the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn starting in fall 2008.

BS, The University of Alabama (2008)

Strud is a native of Greensboro, AL. He graduated magna cum laude from UA in May 2008 with a degree in chemistry. Strud is also an officer in both the pre-dental society and the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society. He was a 2007 inductee into Gamma Sigma Epsilon. Strud joined the Shaughnessy group in the summer of 2007. His research was focused on the use of phosphine-palladium allyl's as air-stable catalysts in C-N bond forming reactions. He has been accepted to the UA Dental School and will start in fall 2008.

Caitlin D. Prickett

BS, The University of Alabama (2007)

Caitlin grew up in Aniston, Alabama. She joined the Shaughnessy group in 2004 as a Howard Hughes Medical Intern. After completing her two year term as a HHMI student, Caitlin has stuck around to continue working with the group. Caitlin's research has focused on Pd-catalyzed modification of nucleosides using water-soluble catalyst systems. She won 1st prize in the Alabama Academy of Science student poster competition in 2006. Caitlin completed a dual major in chemistry and biology and is a 2007 inductee of Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemistry honorary society. She has recently been accepted to the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Atlanta. After completing this masters program, Caitlin will be applying to med school programs.

Paul Guevara

BS, The University of Alabama (2008)

Paul is a native of Georgetown, TX. At UA he was a member of the cross-country and track teams. He earned his degreein chemistry cum laude in May 2008. Paul joined the Shaughnessy group in spring 2007. His work focused on the application of neopentylphosphines in the Sonogashira coupling reaction.

Tetrahedron, 2008, 64, 6920-6934

Joanna M. Smith

BS, The University of Alabama (2007)

Joanna is a native of Birmingham, AL. She joined the Shaughnessy group in the summer of 2006 as a SURP participant. Her research has focused on the application of neopentylphosphines to the Hartwig-Buchwald coupling and the synthesis of water-soluble N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. She was also a member of the track team at UA competing in javelin. Joanna earned a degree in Spanish and is currently a student at the Samford School of Pharmacy.

Tetrahedron, 2008, 64, 6920-6934

Brent R. Graves

BS, The University of Alabama (2007)

Brent Graves is a native of Birmingham, AL. Brent joined the Shaughnessy group in 2006. He has studied the application of neopentylphosphine ligands to Sonogashira and Heck coupling reactions. Brent graduated from UA with a degree in Biology in May, 2007. He is applying to medical school.

BS, The University of Alabama (2007)

Jake is a native of Somerville, AL. He came to UA after studying at Shelton State Community College. Jake worked in the Shaughnessy group during the fall semester of 2006 on the application of neopentylphosphines to the Sonogashira coupling. Jake graduated with a chemistry degree in December 2007. He is currently working as a counselor at the Long Pines Christian Camp.

Tetrahedron, 2008, 64, 6920-6934

BS, The University of Alabama (2006)

Emily is a native of Calera, AL. Emily worked in the Shaughnessy group in 2006. She worked on the application of neopentylphosphine ligands to the Sonogashira and Suzuki coupling reactions. Emily graduated in December 2006 with a degree in Psychology. She is currently living and working in Birmingham while applying to medical school.

Tetrahedron, 2008, 64, 6920-6934

BS, The University of Alabma (2007)

Maryam is a native Californian, but her family now lives in Decatur, AL. She worked in the Shaughnessy lab during the spring 2006 semester. Maryam's worked on the scope of Suzuki coupling reactions using the DTBNpP ligand. Maryam graduated from UA in May 2007. She got married this summer and is living with her husband in Oklahoma.

BS, The University of Alabama (2006)

Fatima is a Birmingham, AL native. She joined the Shaughnessy lab in fall 2005 and continued to work in the lab until graduating in May 2006. Fatima's work included exploration of the activity of cellulose suppored palladium catalysts and the application of neopentylphosphines to the Suzuki coupling. Fatima presented her work at the National ACS meeting in March 2006. Upon graduating, After graduation, Fatima worked at Biocryst Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham. Fatima got married in fall 2007 to Marcus. She will start as a teacher in fall 2008 in the Greene County School System.

BS, University of Kansas (2006)

Kevin was a REU participant in the Shaughnessy lab in summer 2005. He worked on elucidating the structure of the palladium complexes of TXPTS. Kevin earned his BS degree from the University of Kansas. He entered the graduate program in chemistry at Emory University in the fall of 2006. He is working on polyoxymetalates in Dr. Craig Hill's lab.

Organometallics, 2008, 27, 576-593

BS, The University of Alabama (2006)

Alan is a native of Florence, AL. He worked in the Shaughnessy group in 2004 on the synthesis of water-soluble precursors to N-heterocyclic carbenes. Alan graduated from UA in May 2006. In fall 2006 he entered the UA School of Dentistry in Birmingham.

BS, The University of Alabama (2005)

Jason worked in the Shaughnessy lab duringt he spring semester of 2004, while performing a Computer-Based Honors project in collaboration with Dr. Dave Dixon. Jason calculated optimized geometries for a number of ligand-palladium complexes and then calculated the cone angles of these ligands using STERIC. Jason continued to work with Dr. Dixon and collaborate on projects with the Shaughnessy group until his graduation in 2005. Jason is currently an NSF pre-doctoral fellow in chemistry at Northwestern, where he works in the lab of Dr. Fraser Stoddart.

Organometallics, 2005, 24, 962-971
Organometallics, 2008, 27, 576-593

BS, Tuskegee University (2005)

Sheritta was an REU participant in the Shaughnessy lab in the summer of 2004. Sheritta worked on the synthesis of water-soluble precursors to N-heterocyclic carbenes and made the first examples of water-soluble carbene-silver complexes with non-coordinating anionic substituents. After completing her BS degree at Tuskegee in 2005, Sheritta entered the graduate program in chemistry at UAB as an LSAMP fellow. Sheritta is working on computational chemistry with Dr. Tracy Hamilton.

Organometallics 2006, 25, 5151-5158

BS, The University of Alabama (2004)

Marne Harris is a Tuscaloosa native. She worked in the Shaughnessy lab from fall 2003 until she graduated in August 2004. Marne worked on the synthesis of chiral ligands derived from amino acids.

BS, Washington and Jefferson (2005)

DeeDee Sandrock was an REU participant in the Shaughnessy lab in the summer of 2003. She worked on the synthesis of water-soluble, chelating diphosphine ligands and presented her work at SERMACS in 2003. DeeDee graduated from Washington and Jefferson in 2005. That fall she entered the graduate program in chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. She is working in Dr. Gary Molander's group.

BS, The University of Alabama (2005)

Heather is a native of Athens, AL. She worked with the Shaughnessy group in the fall of 2003 on palladium-catalyzed modification of nucleosides. After graduating from UA in 2005, Heather entered UA School of Medicine in Birmingham.

BS, The University of Alabama (2004)

Bret is a native of Mobile, AL. He worked in the Shaughnessy lab in the fall of 2003 on the synthesis of water-soluble diphosphine ligands. Bret is currently in the MBA program at the University of South Alabama.

BS, Georgetown College, KY (2003)
MS, University of Kentucky (2005)

Ashlie was an REU participant in the Shaughnessy lab in the summer of 2002. She worked on the synthesis of an IL-soluble phosphine ligand. Ashlie earned her BS degree from Georgetown College in Kentucky and enrolled in the graduate program in chemistry at the University of Kentucky. Upon completing her MS degree, she was hired by the St. Paul's School for Girls in Maryland as a chemistry teacher and coach.

BS, Virginia Commonwealth University

Jennifer was an REU participant in the Shaughnessy lab in the summer of 2001. Jennifer worked on the synthesis of hydrophilic phosphine ligands. She earned her BS degree and Virginia Commonwealth University. Jennifer works as an NMR/EPR spectroscopist for Phillip Morris.

BS, The University of Alabama (2002)
MD, The University of Alabama School of Medicine (2007)

Carrie worked in the Shaughnessy lab during the summer and fall of 2001. After graduating with a degree in biology in 2002, Carrie entered the Rural Health Scholar's program at UA. She started at UA School of Medicine in 2003. After completing her MD degree in 2007, Carrie accepted a resident position at the University of Arkansas Medical School.

BS, The University of Alabama (2003)
MS, The University of Alabama (2006)

Andrew worked in the Shaughnessy in 2001. He received his BS degree from UA in 2003 and entered the graduate proram in chemistry at UA that fall. After earning his MS degree, Andrew entered the Naval Officers Training program.

Julie Pigza

BS, Alleghany College (2002)
PhD, Indiana University (2008)

Julie was an REU participant in 2000. She worked on the synthesis of dyes that were to be used in a high throughput assay for enantioselective reactions. After graduating from Alleghany college in 2002, Julie entered the graduate program in chemistry at the University of Indiana. Julie joined Dr. Jeffrey Johnston's lab and followed his group to Vanderbilt University. She is working on the total synthesis of (+)-serratezomine A. She completed her PhD in 2008 and is currently a post-doctoral associate with Tadeusz Molinski at UC San Diego, where she is working in the area of natural product isolation and characterization.

BS, The University of Alabama (2001)
MD, University of Alabama School of Medicine (2005)

Michael was the first student to do research in the Shaughnessy lab in the spring 2000. Michael worked on the synthesis of FRET dies for enantioselectivity assays. After graduating from UA, Michael entered the UA School of Medicine and received his MD in 2005. After completing a 3 year residency in internal medicine at Tulane Medical School, Michael has accepted a fellowship to continue his training in gastroenterology at Tulane.