Education:
AB, University of Illinois-Chicago, 1980
PhD, University of Illinois-Urbana, 1985
Professional Experience:
Norman Rabjohn Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, 2000-present
Professor, University of Missouri, 1998-2000
Associate Professor, University of Missouri, 1992-1998
Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, 1986-1992
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, 1985-1986
Honors and Awards
- 2023: Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- 2021: Gold Chalk Award, University of Missouri
- 2021 Fuldner Faculty Fellow, University of Missouri
- 2018: Invited Guest Professor, University of Giessen
- 2018: Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Reinvitation)
- 2015-2016: Leadership Development Program, University of Missouri System
- 2015: Fuldner Faculty Fellow, University of Missouri-Columbia
- 2014: Invited Guest Professor, University of Giessen
- 2014: Fuldner Faculty Fellow, University of Missouri
- Oct 21, 2011: Sigma-Aldrich Lectureship, University of Nevada-Reno
- 2011: Invited Guest Professor, University of Strasbourg
- 2011: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellow
- 2010: Prose Award-Honorable Mention-for Silver in Organic Chemistry
- 2010: Adjunct Professor, International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine
- 2010-present: Liebig Professorship, University of Giessen
- 2008: Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Reinvitation)
- 2006: Big 12 Faculty Fellow, University of Texas-Austin
- 2000: Norman Rabjohn Distinguished Professorship, University of Missouri
- 1998: Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- 1997: Arts and Science Student Government "Blue Chalk" Advising Award, University of Missouri
- 1985: NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University
Selected Professional Activities
- Chair, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2020-2023
- Chair-Elect, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2019
- Chair, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2018
- Chair-Elect, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2017
- Member, ACS Awards Committee, 2016-2018
- Chair, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2016
- Editorial Board, Chemistry SELECT, 2015-present
- Chair-Elect, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2015
- Chair, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2014
- Chair-Elect, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 2013
- Editorial Board, Letters in Organic Chemistry, 2007-2010
- Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Organic Reactions and Processes, 2000
- Vice-Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Organic Reactions and Processes, 1999
- Editor: Advances in Cycloaddition, 1997-2001
- Editor: Strategies and Tactics in Organic Synthesis, 2002-2021
- Editorial Board, Mini Reviews in Organic Chemistry, 2003-present
- Chair, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 1993
- President, President, Sigma Xi, University of Missouri Local Chapter, 1992-1993
- Chair-Elect, University of Missouri Local Section of the American Chemical Society, 1992
- Vice-President, Vice-President, Sigma Xi, University of Missouri Local Chapter, 1991-1992
- National Chemistry Week, 1989. Appeared on Missouri Forum, a local television talk show, to debate an environmentalist regarding the impact of chemistry on society. The local ACS section was subsequently given an award from the national organization for the best media coverage of NCW activities as a result of this program.
Research Emphasis:
Synthetic and Medicinal Organic Chemistry, (4+3)-Cycloadditions, Synthesis and Chemistry of Benzothiazines, Cyclopentadienone Chemistry, Retro-Nazarov Reaction, Kagan's Ether Chemistry, Trögers Base Chemistry, Silver Ion Catalysis, Allenic Sulfone Chemistry, Fluorination and Total Synthesis
Research:
My research program encompasses many areas of organic chemistry with a principal focus on pericyclic reactions of reactive intermediates. We have also made significant contributions to molecular recognition and supramolecular chemistry in the course of our work on derivatives of Kagan’s ether and Tröger’s base.
In the area of (4+3)-cycloaddition chemistry, we are now especially interested in new mild methods to generate allylic cations. Our newest work is centered on the development of asymmetric processes and the application of methodology we have invented to the synthesis of biologically active natural products, compounds which served as drug leads or important tools for discovering the molecular mechanism by which small molecular produce their effects in living systems.
Our work with Kagan's ether and Tröger's base centers on the development of new chiral templates for applications in catalysis, molecular recognition and supramolecular chemistry. One current goal is developing a series of molecules for a process we call asymmetric charge transfer catalysis. Another concerns the design and synthesis of new ligands for the actinide elements
We are actively engaged in allenic sulfone and allylic sulfone chemistry. We have developed methods for the synthesis of value-added, boronated allylic sulfones and have invented a number of new processes that increase the synthetic value of allenic sulfones.
Finally, the construction of new chiral ligands for applications in asymmetric catalysis is one goal of our work involving the cyclic sulfoximines known as benzothiazines. We have also developed methodology that is applicable to the asymmetric total synthesis of a wide variety of natural products, including those of the pseudopterosin class. These compounds have biological activities that include powerful analgesic effects and potent antitubercular activity.
“Oxidative Bridgehead Functionalization of (4 + 3) Cycloadducts Obtained from Oxidopyridinium Ions.” Wanna Sungnoi and Michael Harmata. RSC Adv. 2022, 12, 28572-28575.
“First Synthesis of an ABCE Ring Substructure of Daphnicyclidin A.” Jinazhou Tu, Madison M. Clark, and Michael Harmata. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2022, 20, 6547–6549.
“Intramolecular (4+3) Cycloadditions of Oxidopyridinium Ions: Towards Daphnicyclidin A.” Jianzhuo Tu, Rawshan A. Ripa, Steven P. Kelley, and Michael Harmata. Chem. Eur. J. 2022, 28 e202200370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200370.
“Tropane Skeleta from the Intramolecular Photocycloaddition of (4+3) Cycloadducts of Oxidopyridinium Ions and Dienes. Chencheng Fu, Wanna Sungoi, Jianzhuo Tu, Steven P. Kelley, and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2022 24, 3521-3525.
“NMR internal standard signal shifts due to cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.” Colleen L. Ray, James A. Gawenis, Michael Harmata, and Charles Michael Greenlief. Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry 2022, 60, 80–85.
“Endo Selectivity in the (4+3) Cycloaddition of Oxidopyridinium Ions.” Wanna Sungnoi, W.; Keto, A. B.; Roseli, R. B.; Liu, J.; Wang, H.; Chencheng Fu, Erik L. Regaldo, Elizabeth H. Krenske, and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2021, 23, 8302–8306.
“Generation of the 7-Azabicyclo[4.3.1]decane Ring System via (4 + 3) Cycloaddition of Oxidopyridinium Ions.” Chencheng Fu, Steven P. Kelley, Jianzhuo Tu, and Michael Harmata. The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2021, 86, 7028–7037.
“Preparation of S-2-Halophenyl-2,1-Benzothiazines.” Aswin Garimalla and Michael Harmata. Tetrahedron 2021, 84, 131991.
“From 5-Hydroxynicotinic Acid to Nitrogenous (4+3)-Cycloadducts.” Alexander S. Harmata and Michael Harmata. Organic Syntheses 2020, 97, 139–156.
“Mono-endo-6-N,N-Diethylcarbamoyl and bis-endo,endo-6,12-N,N-Diethylcarbamoyl Derivatives of Tröger’s Base. Synthesis and exo-endo Isomerization Study. Sami Dawaigher, Emil Lindbäck, Daniel Strand, Anna Cederbalk, Stuart Winikoff, Michael Harmata, Victor Snieckus and Kenneth Wärnmark. ARKIVOC 2020, 67–81.
“The Effect of Lithium Ion on the Stereoselectivity of the Intramolecular Michael Addition of an N-Aryl-Sulfoximine Anion.” Aswin Garimalla, Quin Long, Christopher J. Cramer, and Michael Harmata. Heterocycles 2019, 99, 1117–1127.
“Fun with (4+3)-Cycloadditions.” Michael Harmata. Synlett 2019, 30, 532-541.
“Synthesis of Methyl 2-Bromo-2 oxoccyclopent-1-enecarboxylate.” Rama Rao Tata and Michael Harmata. Org. Synth. 2018, 95, 425-438.
“Synthesis of 3-Arylsulfonyl-3-Pyrrolines from Allenyl Sulfonamides by Silver Ion Catalysis.” Rama Rao Tata, Chencheng Fu, Steven P. Kelley, and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2018, 5723-5726.
“Derivatives of Alkyl 2-Hydroxy-3-oxocyclopent-1-enecarboxylates and Intermolecular [4+2] Cycloadditions of Cyclopentadienones Prepared Therefrom.” Aswin Garimalla and Michael Harmata. Synthesis 2018, 4483-4489.
“Sulfinate Allenyl Carbenoids: Synthesis of 2,5-Dihydrofurans by Domino Rearrangement and Cyclization.” Rama Rao Tata and Michael Harmata. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2018, 372-375.
“(4+3)-Cycloaddition Reactions of N-Alkyl Oxidopyridinium Ions.” Chencheng Fu, Nestor Lora, Patrick L. Kirchhoefer, Dong Reyoul Lee, Erich Altenhofer, Charles L. Barnes, Natasha L. Hungerford, Elizabeth H. Krenske, and Michael Harmata. Angewandte Chemie, International Edition 2017, 56, 14682-14687.
“Comments on a CIP rule conundrum: Why I think I’m right.” Michael Harmata. Tetrahedron Letters 2017, 58, 3687-3689.
“An Asymmetric, Catalytic (4+3) Cycloaddition Reaction of Cyclopentenyl Oxyallylic Cations.” Michael Topinka, Kerstin Zawatzky, Charles L. Barnes, Christopher J. Welch, and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2017, 19, 4106-4109.
“In vivo Transport of Three Radioactive [18F]-Fluorinated Deoxysucrose Analogs by the Maize Sucrose Transporter ZmSUT1.” Thu M. Tran, Carissa S. Hampton, Tom W. Brossard, Michael Harmata, J. David Robertson, Silvia S. Jurisson, and David M. Braun. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 2017, 115, 1-11.
“Preparation of Propargylic Sulfinates and Their [2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement to Allenic Sulfones.” Rama Rao Tata, Carissa S. Hampton, and Michael Harmata. Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis 2017, 359, 1232–1241.
“Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of New 99mTc/Re(V)-Cyclized Octreotide Analogues: An Experimental and Computational Approach.” Yawen Li, Lixin Ma, Vikram Gaddam, Fabio Gallazzi, Heather M. Hennkens, Michael Harmata, Michael R. Lewis, Carol A. Deakyne, and Silvia S. Jurisson. Inorganic Chemistry 2016, 55, 1124-1133.
“Mechanistic Aspects of the Palladium-Catalyzed Isomerization of Allenic Sulfones to 1-Arylsulfonyl 1,3-Dienes.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2016, 82, 4807-4822.
“Synthesis of Tröger’s Base Derived Ligands: PHZ-Derivatized Ligand with Pendant Donor Arms.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. Tetrahedron 2016, 6064-6077.
“Metal-Catalyzed (4+3) Cycloadditions Involving Allylic Cations.” Darin E. Jones and Michael Harmata. Science of Synthesis, Metal-Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions 2 2016, 319-382.
“Silver-Catalyzed Cyclization of Sulfonyl Allenes to Dihydrofurans.” Rama Rao Tata and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2016, 5684–5687.
“[2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Propargylic Sulfinates by a Pale Cu1-USY Zeolite and Copper Salts.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. Tetrahedron Letters 2015, 56, 3243-3245.
“The Resolution and Determination of the Absolute Configuration of a Twisted Bis-Lactam Analogue of Tröger´s Base: a Comparative Spectroscopic and Computational Study.” Ögmundur Vidar Rúnarsson, Christian Benkhäuser, Niels Johan Christensen, Josep Artacho Ruiz, Erhad Ascic, Michael Harmata, Victor Snieckus, Kari Rissanen, Peter Fristrup Arne Lützen, and Kenneth Wärnmark. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80, 8142–8149.
“A Protocol for the exo-mono and exo,exo-bis Functionalization of the Diazocine Ring of Tröger’s Base.” Sami Dawaigher, Kristoffer Månsson, Erhad Ascic, Josep Artacho, Roger Mårtensson, Nagarajan Loganathan, Ola F. Wendt, Michael Harmata, Victor Snieckus, and Kenneth Wärnmark. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 81, 12006-12014.
“Mechanistic Aspects of the Phosphine-Catalyzed Isomerization of Allenic Sulfones to 2-Arylsulfonyl-1,3-Dienes.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 81, 12151-12158.
“Radical Isomerization of Borylated Allylic Sulfones.” Erich Altenhofer and Michael Harmata. Tetrahedron Letters 2015, 56, 3176-3178.
“[2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Propargylic Sulfinates by a Pale Ag1-USY Zeolite and Silver Salts.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis 2015, 357, 549-552.
“Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reactions of Conjunctive Reagents: 2-Borylated Allylic Sulfones.” Erich F. Altenhofer and Michael Harmata. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80, 8168–8174.
“A Synthesis of Dihydrofuran-3(2H)-ones.” Rama Rao Tata and Michael Harmata. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80, 6839–6845.
“The Quasi-Favorskii Rearrangement.” Michael Harmata. In Molecular Rearrangements in Organic Synthesis; Rojas, C. M., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, 2015; Chapter 7.
“A Synthesis of 6-Deoxy-6-Fluorosucrose Suitable for PET Applications.” Xuefeng Gao, Vikram Gaddam and Michael Harmata. Carbohydrate Research 2014, 400, 14-18.
“Catalytic Generation of Vinylthionium Ions. (4+3)-Cycloadditions and Friedel-Crafts Alkylations.” Michael Topinka, Rama Rao Tata and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2014, 16, 4476–4479.
“A New Synthesis of α’-Hydroxydienones.” Rama Rao Tata, Carissa S. Hampton, Erich F. Altenhofer, Michael Topinka, Weijiang Ying, Xuefeng Gao and Michael Harmata. Chemistry A European Journal 2014, 20, 13547–13550.
“Regiodivergent Synthesis of 1- and 2-Arylsulfonyl-1,3-Dienes.” Carissa S. Hampton and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2014, 16, 1256–1259.
“Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclic Boronates.” Erich Altenhofer and Michael Harmata. Organic Letters 2014, 16, 1-4.
“Carbon to Carbon Anion Relay Chemistry: Facile Generation of Substituted Allyllithium Species.” Pinguan Zheng, Zhengxin Cai, Aswinkumar Garimallaprabhakaran, Parham Rooshenas, Peter R. Schreiner, and Michael Harmata. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2011, 5255-5260.
“Control Elements in Dynamically Determined Selectivity on a Bifurcating Surface.” Jacqueline B. Thomas, Jack R. Wass, Michael Harmata and Daniel A. Singleton. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2008, 130, 14544-14555.
“An Interrupted [4+3]-Cycloaddition Reaction: A Hydride Shift (Ene Reaction) Intervenes.” Michael Harmata, Chaofeng Huang, Parham Rooshenas and Peter R. Schreiner. Angewandte Chemie, International Edition 2008, 8696-8699.
“Intermolecular [4+2]-Cycloaddtions of a Reactive Cyclopentadienone.” Michael Harmata and Maria G. Gomes. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2006, 2273-2277.
“Deantiaromatization as a Driving Force in an Electrocyclic Reaction.” Michael Harmata, Pinguan Zheng, Peter R. Schreiner and Armando Navarro-Vázquez, Angewandte Chemie, International Edition 2006, 45, 1966-1971.
“Benzothiazines in Synthesis. A Synthesis of Pseudopteroxazole.” Michael Harmata and Xuechuan Hong. Organic Letters 2005, 8, 3581-3583.
“Chiral Molecular Tweezers.” Michael Harmata, Accounts of Chemical Research 2004, 37, 862-873.
"Asymmetric Organocatalysis of 4+3 Cycloaddition Reactions." Michael Harmata, Sunil K. Ghosh, Xuechuan Hong, Sumrit Wacharasindhu and Patrick Kirchhoefer. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2003, 125, 2058-2059.
"The Retro-Nazarov Reaction." Michael Harmata and Dong Reyeoul Lee. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2002, 124, 14328-14329.
“Molecular Clefts. 4. An Approach to Structural Analogues of Echinomycin: Synthesis of a New Class of Synthetic Molecular Tweezers.” Michael Harmata, Charles L. Barnes, Srinivasa Rao Karra and Saleh Elahmad. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1994, 116, 8392-8393.
“Alkoxyvinyl Thionium Ions in Intramolecular 4+3 Cycloaddition Reactions.” Michael Harmata, Vernon R. Fletcher and R.J. Claassen II. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1991, 113, 9861-9862.