KEITH WOERPEL

Research Description
Our research addresses the development of new methods and reactions for organic synthesis. My laboratory examines transformations with unusual reaction mechanisms that provide insight into fundamental chemical reactivity. As part of this program, we have studied the reactions of strained ring silanes, which led us to develop new reactions of silylenes and to examine the applications of these species in organic synthesis. We have also advanced the understanding of the structures and reactions of oxocarbenium ions, and we have developed stereoelectronic models that explain and predict their reactivity. Our applications of allylic silane chemistry to the synthesis of heterocycles led to the development of several syntheses of natural products, including erythronolide A. We are developing methods for the synthesis of organic peroxides, a family of compounds that includes a large number of biologically active natural products.