The speaker is interested in exploring the use of unique structures in catalysis. A particular focus has been the design of catalyst platforms using aromatic ions such as cyclopropenium cation and cyclopentadienyl anion. He is seeking to develop broadly applicable paradigms for substrate activation that capitalize on the unique reactivity of these ionic aromatic motifs. This lecture will focus on the development of cyclopropenimines as a highly effective platform for enantioselective Bronsted base catalysis and pentacarboxycyclopentadienes (PCCPs) as a new class of enantioselective Bronsted acid catalysts.
About the speaker
Prof Tristan H. Lambert received his MS degree in Organic Chemistry from University of California at Berkeley in 2000 and PhD in Organic Chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 2004. He then became the Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Prof Samuel J. Danishefsky at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 2004 to 2006. After that, he entered Columbia University as an Assistant Professor in 2006 and was promoted as an Associate Professor in 2011. He is now the Professor of Chemistry in Columbia University since 2016.
Prof Lambert is a highly recognized researcher and scholar in the world. His research is focused in the area of catalysis and is especially interested in the development of novel catalytic strategies for selective organic synthesis. He made pioneering contribution to the new reaction development, particularly in the area of aromatic ion catalysis and asymmetric organocatalysis. Projects that he has been active in include dehydrative reactions, enantioselective Bronsted base catalysis, and carbonyl-olefin metathesis. In approaching these and other problems, he strives to develop highly effective practical solutions while asking interesting questions of reactivity and mechanism. He brings both synthetic and physical organic techniques to bear on answering these questions as we work to develop catalyst systems of practical value for the field of organic synthesis. He has been the Grant reviewer of NSF (MPS Section), ACS-Petroleum Research Fund and NIH, SBC-A Study Section and he has published 40 articles on his research topic.
Prof Lambert has been the Director of Graduate Studies, Organic Colloquium Coordinator and the Chair of Ad Hoc Committee for Evaluation of Graduate Curriculum of the University since 2015. Besides, he also received numerous awards including Abbott Young Investigator Award in 2009, Amgen Young Investigator Award in 2010 and Eli Lilly Grantee Award in 2011.
For attendees’ attention
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
