Brian Alexander Keay
Positions
Professor Emeritus
Contact information
Web presence
Background
Educational Background
B.S. Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 1979
Doctor of Philosophy Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 1983
Research
Areas of Research
Research interests include the development of new chiral ligands, catalysts, and reagents for asymmetric transformations. These new transformations are used as the key step(s) towards the synthesis of natural products exhibiting interesting biological activity. In particular, the asymmetric palladium-catalyzed polyene cyclization is being investigated. This reaction forms two or more rings with the simultaneous creation of stereogenic centres. Asymmetric Heck reactions are being studied using a variety of heterocycles. New C2-symmetric heteroaromatic biaryls are being designed and synthesized which contain a variety of functional groups that can act as ligands with metals (Pd, Ni, Ti, etc.) and Lewis acids (B, Al, Zn, Sn, etc.). Current synthetic targets include the halenaquinone, vridin, drimane sequiterpenes, chiral spiro 1,3-amino-alcohol systems, and 3,3'-disubstituted BINAP derivatives.
Are you the profile owner?
Login to edit.