The research in our group combines elements of organic synthesis, physical organic chemistry and organometallic chemistry to devise catalytic processes of use in solving problems of fundamental importance. In this way we invent or develop new techniques, determine how they proceed and apply them in a synthetically interesting context. The key to our success has been the extraordinary quality of the coworkers in the research group over the years.

We are interested in a wide number of different types of transformations. These include:

•The creation and study of new ligands.

•The design of new methods for the formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds. This work involves the use of metal catalysts, usually based on palladium or copper.

•The development of new methods for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds, including asymmetric transformations.

•The study of catalytic C-H functionalization routes to highly substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds.

•The development of new methods for the formation of carbon-fluorine bonds and the use of this methodology in PET and medicinal chemistry applications.

•The use of mechanistic and structural studies to aid in ligand and catalyst development.

• The development of continuous flow chemistry using microreactors and capillary tubing. This work takes advantage of the increased heat and mass transfer properties of silicon microreactors, and allows for optimization on a very small scale.

Please check the Buchwald group web site for recent news and references: http://mit.edu/chemistry/buchwald/