Faculty Profiles

Ross A. Widenhoefer
Ross A. Widenhoefer
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
124 Science Drive, 2101 French Science Center, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-1533
Fax: 
(919) 660-1605
ross.widenhoefer@duke.edu
Widenhoefer Research Group
Research Interests: 

Research in the Widenhoefer group is directed toward the development and mechanistic analysis of new organotransition metal-catalyzed transformations for application in the synthesis of functionalized organic molecules. In particular, our group has a long-standing interest in the functionalization of C–C multiple bonds with carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles catalyzed by electrophilic late transition metal complexes, with a recent focus on the synthetic and mechanistic aspect of gold(I) pi-activation catalysis. Current areas of inquiry include the following: 1) Gold(I) and Pt(II)-catalyzed hydroamination of alkenes an allenes. 2) Gold(I)-catalyzed dehydrative amination of underivatized allylic alcohols. 3) Synthesis and study of cationic, two-coordinate gold pi-complexes. 4) Evaluating the role of bis(gold) complexes in gold pi-activation catalysis. More detailed descriptions of these research projects can be found at our group web page.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison 1994

B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College 1989

Research Areas:
Synthesis, Inorganic, Organic

Wang, X., et al. “Palladium-catalyzed ring-opening cyclization/hydrosilylation of 1-cyclopropyl-1,6-heptadienes to form (E)-1-butenyl cyclopentanes.” Organometallics, vol. 21, no. 5, Mar. 2002, pp. 901–05. Scopus, doi:10.1021/om010907l. Full Text

Pei, Tao, and Ross A. Widenhoefer. “Palladium-catalyzed cyclization of alkenyl beta-keto esters in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane.” Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England), no. 6, Mar. 2002, pp. 650–51. Epmc, doi:10.1039/b111644d. Full Text

Perch, N. S., and R. A. Widenhoefer. “Direct observation of the conversion of a palladium 5-hexenyl chelate complex to a palladium cyclopentylmethyl complex.” Organometallics, vol. 20, no. 25, Dec. 2001, pp. 5251–53. Scopus, doi:10.1021/om010876u. Full Text

Wang, Xiang, et al. “Synthesis of Carbobicyclic Compounds via Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization/ Hydrosilylation:  Evidence for Reversible Silylpalladation.” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 66, no. 23, American Chemical Society (ACS), Nov. 2001, pp. 7930–7930. Crossref, doi:10.1021/jo015717z. Full Text

Pei, T., and R. A. Widenhoefer. “Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric diene cyclization/hydrosilylation employing functionalized silanes and disiloxanes.” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 66, no. 23, Nov. 2001, pp. 7639–45. Epmc, doi:10.1021/jo015724n. Full Text

Goj, L. A., and R. A. Widenhoefer. “Mechanistic studies of the cycloisomerization of dimethyl diallylmalonate catalyzed by a cationic palladium phenanthroline complex.” Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 123, no. 45, Nov. 2001, pp. 11133–47. Epmc, doi:10.1021/ja0108685. Full Text

Pei, T., and R. A. Widenhoefer. “Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular addition of 1,3-diones to unactivated olefins.” Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 123, no. 45, Nov. 2001, pp. 11290–91. Epmc, doi:10.1021/ja011764x. Full Text

Madine, James W., et al. “Cyclization/Hydrosilylation of Functionalized Diynes Catalyzed by a Cationic Platinum Phenanthroline Complex.” Organic Letters, vol. 3, no. 10, American Chemical Society (ACS), May 2001, pp. 1591–92. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ol0158819. Full Text

Wang, X., et al. “Synthesis of carbobicyclic compounds via palladium-catalyzed cyclization/hydrosilylation: evidence for reversible silylpalladation.” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 66, no. 5, Mar. 2001, pp. 1755–60. Epmc, doi:10.1021/jo001438k. Full Text

Madine, J. W., et al. “Cyclization/hydrosilylation of functionalized diynes catalyzed by a cationic platinum phenanthroline complex.” Organic Letters, vol. 3, no. 3, Feb. 2001, pp. 385–88. Epmc, doi:10.1021/ol006901u. Full Text

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