The Douglas Research Group

Organometallic Catalysis • Organic Materials • Total Synthesis

Our group is interested in applying the principles of organometallic catalysis and physical organic chemistry to synthetic applications. To that end, we are focused on developing new bond functionalization methodologies, synthesizing complex targets and designing novel organic materials.

The Douglas group is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for researchers of all backgrounds

Group Meetings: Mondays at 8:30 AM, Smith Hall 122

5/14/2026 - Our inaugural fluorine chemistry work, where we convert aryl-trifluoromethyl groups to t-Bu esters, was just published in J. Org. Chem.! Congrats to Serena and Yun!

5/9/2026 - Our work synthesizing a carbon allotrope monomer was just published in Tetrahedron Lett.! Congrats to Alyssa!

4/13/2026 - Congratulations to Cormac for winning the NSF-GRFP!

2/19/2026 - Will passed his oral preliminary exam and has advanced to candidacy!

11/13/2025 - The group has welcomed our newest members - Cheryl and Cormac! 

9/4/2025 - Will was awarded an Honorable Mention for graduate teaching, and Parker earned a departmental excellence fellowship! Congratulations to you both!

6/27/2025 - Serena presented a poster on our eburnamonine work at the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry National Organic Symposium and won a best poster award! Way to go!

6/26/2025 - Chris, Parker, and Serena attended the Heterocycles GRS and GRC in Newport, RI this past week! Serena was a discussion leader in the transition metal chemistry session and presented a poster on our defluorination project (soon to be in press), and Parker gave a talk and poster on our hydroacylation work. Way to represent the group!

6/19/2025 - Our work on asymmetric hydroacylation has been published to ACS Catalysis! Congratulations to Parker, Hannah, and Nitha!

6/13/2025 - Alyssa and Serena presented posters at the latest Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry (EWOC) Conference in Chicago, IL!

6/6/2025 - Alyssa and Parker both gave 3rd year talks at the UMN Chemistry Department's 24th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, where Parker won an honorable mention for best talk!

6/4/2025 - Alyssa and Parker both gave talks at ACS Great Lakes 2025 in Appleton, WI!

5/19/2025 - Julia began her internship this summer with Donaldson!

1/15/2025 - Nitha passed her oral preliminary exam and is now a Ph.D. Candidate!

1/7/2025 - Congratulations to Nitha for being awarded the Pothaprogada Fellowship!

10/23/2024 - Congratulations to Parker for recieving the ACS Pride Merck Graduate Research Award! 

9/10/2024 - Alyssa was named an honorable mention for outstanding graduate teaching, and Nitha was awarded the 4.0 GPA award! Congrats you two!

7/11/2024 - We published in JACS! Check out Margaret's latest paper here: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c03249