Michael A. Kerr
Professor
B.Sc. (Waterloo)
Ph.D. (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Office: Rm 219, Lab Rm 213, 217, 218, 311
Phone (Office): 661-2111 ext 86354
Phone (Lab): 661-2111 ext 86335
Chemical Synthesis
Awards:
• Occupational Health and Safety Recognition Award
Current Research Programs:
In my research group we are engaged in the development of new synthetic
methods which will be of interest to the chemical community and the
application of these methods to the synthesis of natural and unnatural
products of biological and medicinal interest. We have gained expertise
in 1) the use of ultra-high pressures to promote useful chemical
reactions, 2) the Diels-Alder reactions of unusual dienophiles, 3) the
synthesis and chemical reactivity of heterocyclic systems, particularly
indoles, 4) the chemical synthesis of complex target molecules,
particularly alkaloids, 5) the use of donor/acceptor cyclopropanes in
organic synthesis and 6) the development of new cycloadditions.
Selected Publications:
Total Synthesis of (+)-Isatisine A. Avedis Karadeolian; Michael A. Kerr. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 1133-1135. Synthesis of Tetrahydropyrans from Propargyl
Alcohols and 1,1-Cyclopropanediesters: A One-Pot Ring-Opening/Conia-Ene
Protocol. Andrew B. Leduc; Terry P. Lebold; Michael A. Kerr. J. Org. Chem. 2009, 74, 8414-8416. Heterocycles From Cyclopropanes: Applications in Natural Products Synthesis. Cheryl A. Carson; Michael A. Kerr. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2009, 38, 3051-3060. Stereodivergent Synthesis of Fused Bicyclo
Pyrazolidines: Access to Pyrazolines and Pyrrolidines. Terry P. Lebold;
Michael A. Kerr. Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 4354-4357. A Zn(II) Catalyzed Synthesis of Piperidines from
Propargyl Amines and Cyclopropanes. Terry P. Lebold; Andrew B. Leduc;
Michael A. Kerr. Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 3770-3772.
