Dr. Laurel GojAssistant Professor of Chemistry
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I received my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Smith College in 1999 and earned a Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry in 2004 from Duke University. While at Duke I worked in the area of mechanistic studies of palladium-catalyzed diene carbocyclizations with Professor Ross A. Widenhoefer. From 2004-2006 I synthesized and reacted Cu(I) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for C-X (X = H, N, O, and S) bond activation applications as a post-doctoral researcher in the labs of Professor T. Brent Gunnoe at North Carolina State University.Teaching Interests
My teaching interests include introductory organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, the use of instrumentation in the laboratory, and the development of an appreciation for the chemistry of every day things for the non-scientist.
Organic Chemistry (CHM 220/221)
Chemistry and Society (CHM 105)Research Interests
My research focuses on the use of transition metal-based catalysts for useful organic transformations. Development of more efficient catalysts can have great potential impact on society. Two of the most salient reasons for this type of research are environmental conservation (reduced usage of natural resources and generation of less chemical waste) and synthetic improvements (pharmaceutical and agricultural compounds).
One area of interest is the use of palladium complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands as catalysts for the selective hydroformylation of olefins. Functionalized alkanes represent a significant portion of feedstock chemicals for industrial uses. Ketones and aldehydes often serve as the monomeric precursors for polymeric plastics and foams.
With collaboration from the Gunnoe Group at NC State, we are also designing new Cu-NHC complexes to create more active hydroamination catalysts. As naturally occurring and biologically active compounds often contain at least one C-N bond, there is significant room for advances in their catalytic formation. In 2005, 8 of the 10 top-selling pharmaceuticals contained a C-N bond.
Selected Publications
1. “Chemistry Surrounding Monomeric Copper(I) Methyl, Phenyl, Anilido, Ethoxide and Phenoxide Complexes Supported by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: Reactivity Consistent with both Early and Late Transition Metal Systems.”
L. A. Goj, E. D. Blue, S. A. Delp, T. B. Gunnoe, T. R. Cundari, A. W. Pierpont, J. L. Petersen, P. D. Boyle
Inorganic Chemistry, 2006, in press2. “Single-Electron Oxidation of Monomeric Copper (I) Alkyl Complexes: Evidence for Reductive Elimination through Bimolecular Formation of Alkanes”
L. A. Goj, E. D. Blue, S. A. Delp, T. B. Gunnoe, T. R. Cundari, J. L. Petersen
Organometallics, 2006, 25, 4097-4104.
3. “Reactions of TpRu(CO)(NCMe)(Ph) with Electron Rich Olefins: Examples of Stoichiometric C-S, C-O and C-H Bond Cleavage”
L. A. Goj, M. Lail, K. A. Pittard, K. C. Riley, T. B. Gunnoe, J. L. Petersen
Chem. Comm., 2006, 9, 982-984.4. “Cleavage of X-H Bonds (X = N, O, or C) by Cu(I) Alkyl Complexes to Form Monomeric Two-Coordinate Cu(I) Systems”
L. A. Goj, E. D. Blue, C. Munro-Leighton, T. B. Gunnoe;,J. L. Petersen
Inorg. Chem., 2005, 44, 8647-8649.5. “Developments in Catalytic Aromatic C-H Transformations: Promising Tools for Organic Synthesis”
L. A. Goj and T. B. Gunnoe
Current Organic Chemistry, 2005, 9, 671-685.6. “Dramatic Effect of Homoallylic Substitution on the Rate of Palladium-Catalyzed Diene Cycloisomerization”
L. A. Goj, G. A. Cisneros, W. Yang, and R. A. Widenhoefer
J. Organomet. Chem. 2003, 687, 498-507.7. “Mechanistic Studies of the Cycloisomerization of Dimethyl Diallylmalonate Catalyzed by a Cationic Palladium Phenanthroline Complex.”
L. A. Goj and R. A. Widenhoefer
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 11133-11147.8. “Cycloisomerization of Functionalized 1,5- and 1,6-Dienes Catalyzed by Cationic Palladium Complexes Containing Bidentate Nitrogen Ligands.”
P. Kisanga, L. A. Goj, R. A. Widenhoefer
J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 635-637.9. “Aryl Amination Catalyzed by a Monomeric Copper(I) Anilido Complex: Preliminary Studies Consistent with CuIII/CuI Redox Catalytic Cycle.”
L. A. Goj, E. D. Blue, C. Munro-Leighton, T. B. Gunnoe, T. R. Cundari, J. L. Petersen
Submitted10. “The Effect of Substitution on the Cyclization/Hydrosilylation of Functionalized 1,6-Dienes Catalyzed by a Cationic Palladium Complex”
L. A. Goj and R. A. Widenhoefer
Manuscript in preparation
