Werner Research Group
Synthetic Organic & Medicinal Chemistry
Research Overview:
We are interested in the discovery of new chemical reactions, the synthesis of interesting organic products, and the application of our products to catalysis, chemical biology, and medicine.
Publications:
Delray, R. B.*; Werner, N. S. "Synthesis of (E)-Phenylocten-3-ol from 1-Octyn-3-ol: Use of a TBS Protecting Group in the 9-BBN-Catalyzed Hydroboration of a Terminal, Alkyl Alkyne with Pinacolborane" J. Utah Acad. Sci. Arts Lett. 2024, 101, 295–304.
Mukai, S.*; Werner, N. S. "Synthesis and Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of an Alkyl-Substituted Alkenylboronic Acid Pinacol Ester with Aryl Bromides" A. J. U. R. 2023, 20, 39–48.
Ruesch, G. L.*; Rowley, S. L.*; Mifflin, M. C.*; Werner, N. S. "9-Borobicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-Catalyzed Hydroboration of Terminal Aromatic Alkynes with Pinacolborane" A. J. U. R. 2020, 13, 3–12.
Rau, H. H.*; Werner, N. S. "Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (E)-Stilbene Derivatives by Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction" Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett. 2018, 28, 2693–2696.
Maedgen, R. L.*; Pereira, M. R.*; Werner, N. S. “Diastereoselectivity of the Nucleophilic Addition Reaction of the (±)-Menthylmagnesium Chloride Grignard Reagent with Phenyl Isocyanate” J. Utah Acad. Sci. Arts Lett. 2017, 94, 327–334.
Awarded the Best Physical Science Paper in the The Journal of the Utah Academy 2017–2018.
Butterfield, A. G.*; Prater, M. P.*; Werner, N. S. “Preparation of t-Butyldimethylphosphine Borane and t-Butyldiethylphosphine Borane by Selective Grignard Reagent Substitution of Phosphorus Trichloride” A. J. U. R. 2016, 13, 51–57.
Chang, W.-T.; Smith, R. C.; Regens, C. S.; Bailey, A. D.; Werner, N. S.; Denmark, S. E. “Cross-Coupling with Organosilicon Compounds” Org. React. 2011, 75, 213–746.
Denmark, S. E. and Werner, N. S. “gamma-Selective Cross-Coupling of Allylic Silanolate Salts with Aromatic Bromides Using Trialkylphosphonium Tetrafluoroborate Salts Prepared Directly from Phosphine•Borane Adducts” Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 4596–4599.
Highlighted in Synfacts 2011, 11, 1230–1230.
Denmark, S. E. and Werner, N. S. “On the Stereochemical Course of Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Allylic Silanolate Salts with Aromatic Bromides” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 3612–3620.
Denmark, S. E. and Werner, N. S. “Cross-Coupling of Aromatic Bromides with Allylic Silanolate Salts” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 16382–16393.
Checked “Synthesis of 2-Substituted Biaryls via Cu/Pd-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling of 2-Substituted Potassium Benzoates: 4-Methyl-2’-Nitrobiphenyl and 2-Acetyl-4’-Methylbiphenyl” Org. Synth. 2008, 85, 196–208.
*denotes an undergraduate student coauthor.
National, Regional & State-Wide Presentations:
Delray, R. B.*; Werner, N. S. American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 24th, 2025. (poster)
Nelson, B. P.*; Werner, N. S. American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 24th, 2025. (poster)
Mefford, D. N.*; Werner, N. S. American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 24th, 2025. (poster)
Nelson, B. P.*; Werner, N. S. 19th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Cedar City, UT. February 28th, 2025. (poster)
Mefford, D. N.*; Werner, N. S. 19th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Cedar City, UT. February 28th, 2025. (poster)
Delray, R. B.*; Werner, N. S. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. March 23th, 2024. (poster)
Nelson, B. P.*; Werner, N. S. 18th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Orem, UT. February 16th, 2024. (poster)
Hansen, M. M.*; Werner, N. S. 18th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Orem, UT. February 16th, 2024. (poster)
Lunt, M. E.*; Werner, N. S. American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Francisco, CA. August 13th, 2023. (poster)
Werner, N. S. Denmark Symposium. Urbana, IL. August 5th, 2023.
Hartwig, A. C.*; Werner, N. S. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. March 18th, 2023. (poster)
Brown, M. S.*; Werner, N. S. 17th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Salt Lake City, UT. February 17th, 2023. (poster)
Lunt, M.*; Werner, N. S. 17th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Salt Lake City, UT. February 17th, 2023. (poster)
Brown, M. S.*; Werner, N. S. Rural Health Association of Utah Conference. St. George, UT. December 1st, 2022. (poster)
Ruesch, G. L.*; Rowley, S. L.*; Mifflin, M. C.*; Werner, N. S. Western Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Las Vegas, NV. October 21st, 2022. (poster)
James, T.*; Ross, C.*; Werner, N. S. 16th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. St. George, UT. February 25th, 2022. (poster)
Mackay, A.*; Werner, N. S. 16th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. St. George, UT. February 25th, 2022. (poster)
Barnett, C. C.*; Werner, N. S. 16th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. St. George, UT. February 25th, 2022. (poster)
Mukai, S.*; Werner, N. S. 16th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. St. George, UT. February 25th, 2022. (poster)
Mukai, S.*; Werner, N. S. 4th Annual Binghamton University Conference in Undergraduate Chemistry Research. Binghamton, NY (virtual). October 23rd, 2021. (poster)
Fisher, M. M.*; Werner, N. S. 15th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Provo, UT (virtual). February 19th, 2021. (poster)
Rowley, S. L.*; Werner, N. S. 15th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Provo, UT (virtual). February 19th, 2021. (poster)
Ruesch, G. L.*; Rowley, S. L.*; Mifflin, M. C.*; Werner, N. S. 3rd Annual Binghamton University Conference in Undergraduate Chemistry Research. Binghamton, NY (virtual). November 7th, 2020.
Ruesch, G. L.*; Rowley, S. L.*; Mifflin, M. C.*; Werner, N. S. 3rd Annual Binghamton University Conference in Undergraduate Chemistry Research. Binghamton, NY (virtual). November 7th, 2020. (poster)
Rau, H. H.*; Werner, N. S. 258th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. August 28th, 2019. (poster)
Ruesch, G. L.*; Rowley, S. L.*; Mifflin, M. C.*; Werner, N. S. 258th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. August 26th, 2019. (poster).
Mifflin M. C.*; Werner, N. S. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Ogden, UT. March 23rd, 2019. (poster)
Ruesch, G. L.*; Werner, N. S. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Ogden, UT. March 23rd, 2019. (poster)
Smith M. B.*; Werner, N. S. 12th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Cedar City, UT. February 9th, 2018. (poster)
Pereira, M. R.*; Maedgen, R. L.*, Werner, N. S. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Orem, UT. April 7th, 2017.
Clark, K. J.*; Werner, N. S. 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Francisco, CA. April 3rd, 2017. (poster)
Holt, H.*; Werner, N. S. 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 14th, 2016. (poster)
Maedgen, R. L.*; Tomlinson, K. A.*; Werner, N. S. 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 14th, 2016. (poster)
Butterfield, A. G.*; Werner, N. S. 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA. March 16th, 2016. (poster)
Maedgen, R. L.*; Werner, N. S. 10th Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Salt Lake City, UT. February 19th, 2016.
*denotes an undergraduate student coauthor.
Current and Former Research Students:
Brianna Hall, B.S. 2026 (expected)
Garrick Zaleski, B.S. 2025 (Biology Major, Chemistry & Family Services Minor)
Maxwell Ulicny, B.S. 2027 (expected)
David Mefford, B.S. 2026 (Chemistry & Biology Major)
Michal Hansen, B.S. 2024 (Biology Major, Chemistry Minor)
R. Dean Goebel, B.S. 2025 (Human Nutrition Major, Chemistry & Spanish Minor)
R. Brex Delray, B.S. 2024 (M.D. program, University of Colorado Boulder)
Reid Cope, B.S. 2025 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Madison Brown, B.S. 2023 (Forensic Scientist, Utah Department of Public Safety)
McKay Pollmann, B.S. 2024 (M.D. program, The University of Utah)
Ashley Hartwig, B.S. 2025 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Maddelyn Lunt, B.S. 2024 (M.D. program, Dartmouth College)
Braden Nelson, B.S. 2025 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Baylor University)
Chance Witt, B.S. 2024 (M.S. in Anesthesia program, Case Western Reserve University - Houston)
Maia Florence, B.S. 2025 (M.S. program in Global Health, University of Notre Dame)
Cassidy Ross, B.S. 2022 (D.O. program, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine – University of Pikeville)
Shoma "Sean" Mukai, B.S. 2022 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Boston College)
Colin Barnett, B.S. 2023 (D.O. program, Des Moines University)
Allie Mackay, B.S. 2022 (M.D. program, The University of Utah)
Tanner James, B.S. 2022 (M.D. program, University of Nevada, Reno)
Luke Shaner, B.S. 2020 (Research & Development Senior Technician, Fresenius Medical Care)
Madison Fisher, B.S. 2021 (M.D. program, The University of Utah)
Trace Wilson, B.S. 2020 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Purdue University)
Sydney Rowley, B.S. 2021 (Formulation Chemist, SnugZ USA)
Jordan Terry, B.S. 2021 (M.D. Program, Western Michigan University)
Barry Kreyling, B.S. 2020 (M.S. program, Case Western Reserve University)
Emily Bryan Olsen, B.S. 2019 (Nutrition Major, Chemistry Minor)
Zach Rogers, B.S. 2019 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The Ohio State University)
Garett Ruesch, B.S. 2020 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of California, Los Angeles)
Marcus Mifflin, B.S. 2019 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of Utah)
J. Brenton Bushnell, B.S. 2020 (M.D. Program, Medical College of Wisconsin)
Hayden Bishop, B.S. 2020 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Purdue University)
Mason Smith, B.S. 2019 (D.M.D. program, Roseman University of Health Sciences)
Chris Ozeretny, B.S. 2020 (Chemistry Minor)
Chris Christiansen, B.S. 2018 (M.D. program, The University of Utah)
Haley Shumway, B.S. 2017 (D.O. program, Rocky Vista University - Ivins)
Kyle Clark, B.S. 2018 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Brigham Young University)
Adam Eddington, B.S. 2017 (M.D. program, Dartmouth College)
Richie Sauceda, B.S. 2017 (J.D. program, University of Minnesota)
Peter Kemp, B.S. 2017 (D.P.M. program, Kent State University)
Samantha Bengtzen, B.S. 2017 (M.D. program, The University of Utah)
Myla Pereira, B.S. 2018 (D.O. program, Nova Southeastern University)
Krysten Tomlinson, B.S. 2018 (Music Major, Chemistry Minor)
Taylor Sorenson, B.S. 2016 (D.O. program, Pacific Northwest University)
Travis Tuttle, B.S. 2016 (D.D.S. program, The University of Iowa)
Brandon Wilburn, B.S. 2016 (D.M.D. program, Oregon Health & Sciences University)
E.J. Leavitt, B.S. 2017 (D.O. program, Rocky Vista University)
Rebecca Maedgen, B.S. 2016 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, University of Pittsburgh)
Karina Jonas Ballard, B.S. 2016 (Finance Major, Chemistry Minor)
Hailee Holt Rau, B.S. 2017 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of Oklahoma)
Auston Butterfield, B.S. 2015 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, Pennsylvania State University)
Matthew Prater, B.S. 2015 (Chemistry Ph.D. program, The University of Utah)
Stephan Maman, B.S. 2015 (M.D. program, Pennsylvania State University)
Research Group Pictures:
Summer 2024
(from left Brianna Hall, David Mefford, Max Ulicny, Garrick Zaleski, Braden Nelson, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2023
(from left R. Brex Delray, Braden Nelson, David Mefford, R. Dean Goebel, Ashley Hartwig, Michal Hansen, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2022
(from left Reid Cope, Chance Witt, Madison Brown, Maddelyn Lunt, Ashley Hartwig, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2021
(from left Colin Barnett, Shoma "Sean" Mukai, Chance Witt, Maia Florence, Cassidy Ross, Tanner James, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2019
(from left Sydney Rowley, Trace Wilson, Luke Shaner, Garett Ruesch, Madison Fisher, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2018
(from left Hayden Bishop, J. Brenton Bushnell, Marcus Mifflin, Garett Ruesch, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2017
(from left J. Brenton Bushnell, Marcus Mifflin, Chris Ozeretny, Mason Smith, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2016
(from left Samantha Bengtzen, E.J. Leavitt, Adam Eddington, Haley Shumway, Kyle Clark, Chris Christiansen, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2015
(from left Krysten Tomlinson, Richie Sauceda, Hailee Holt, Brandon Wilburn, E.J. Leavitt, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2014
(from left Rebecca Maedgen, Matt Prater, EJ Leavitt, Nathan Werner)
Summer 2013
(from left Matt Prater, Hailee Holt, Karina Jonas, Marianna Katz, Auston Butterfield, Nathan Werner)