Welcome to the Wenzel Group Homepage!
The Wenzel Group investigates research questions at the interface of medicinal, synthetic organic, and organometallic chemistry. In particular, our program focuses on two main areas:
(1) Chemical Catalysis. Students in the laboratory investigate the development of catalytic and/or asymmetric methodologies for the preparation of small molecules, notably those with potential applications as building blocks for the preparation of bioactive compounds (e.g., pharmaceuticals) and their corresponding derivatives. We apply the techniques of physical organic chemistry to gain insight into the mechanisms of these reactions.
(2) Combatting Substandard and Falsified Drugs in Developing Nations. In collaboration with the Distributed Pharmaceutical Analysis Lab (DPAL) at the University of Notre Dame, students provide validated chemical analysis of pharmaceutical samples from partners in the developing world.
Undergraduate students play a pivotal role in this research. Please contact awenzel@natsci.claremont.edu if you are interested in joining our team!
Latest Group News:
September 2025: The Wenzel Group receives a $250,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the catalytic formation of amines and phosphonates.
August 2025: Vanessa Justo (SCR '26) and Prof. Wenzel head to the ACS National Meeting in Washington D.C. to present their work on combatting drug falsification with DPAL
July 2025: Wenzel Group allenoate Claisen chemistry was just used in Furstner's synthesis of Strasseriolide B, a potent antimalarial agent!
May 2025: Congratulations to Drew Schmidt (CMC '25), who received the Outstanding Senior Thesis in Physical Sciences award from the Department of Natural Sciences. His work was also recognized by the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry with the ACS Organic Division Undergraduate Award. Drew begins chemistry doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University in Fall 2025. Congratulations!
May 2025: Congratulations to Jana Gaskin (SCR '25)! Jana was awarded the outstanding senior award from the American Institute of Chemists based on her outstanding course performance and excellent thesis, which she performed at Merck.
May 2025: Congratulations to Emily Hurtado (PTZ '25), who just graduated from Pitzer College! Emily will begin studies at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine in Fall 2025.
May 2025: Congratulations to group alum Ryan Ferdowsian (PTZ '20), who just graduated with his MD from Loyola University Chicago. He just matched with his top residency choice in family medicine!
December 2024: Congratulations to Rachael E. Hamilton (SCR '16), Ellen A. Berkley (CMC '17), Iain K. Laufer (CMC '17), Madeline E. Ruos (SCR '20), Brandon Smith (PTZ '19), Anthony N. Dahi (PTZ '17), Timothy J. Gallagher (CMC '18), Vanessa Justo (SCR '26), and Flannery Warner (SCR '26) for their recently published allenoate Claisen paper in the Journal of Organic Chemistry!
December 2024: Congratulations to Kyra Brosnahan (SCR '24), who just graduated! Kyra will begin chemistry doctoral studies at the University of Washington in Fall 2025.
May 2024: Congratulations to Rebecca Bodner ('24) and Jayati Anshu ('24), who just graduated from Scripps College!
May 2024: Prof. Wenzel publishes a review in Comprehensive Chirality on Chiral Auxiliaries in Sigmatropic Rearrangements.
August 2024: Congratulations to group alum Julia Young (PTZ '21), who just started graduate studies at UNC School of Medicine!
August 2024: Congratulations to group alum Andrew Choi (CMC '21), who will begin his MD studies at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine this fall!
June 2024: Congratulations to group alum Guneet Kaur (SCR '19), who graduated with her MD from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA!
March 2024: Congratulations to Jana Gaskin (SCR '25), who was awarded a Barry Goldwater Scholarship!
August 2023: Congratulations to Laura K. G. Ackerman-Biegasiewicz (CMC '08), who just joined the faculty at Emory University!
August 2022: Congratulations to group alum Sophie Samiee (PTZ '22), who just graduated and accepted a Research Associate position at UC San Francisco!
June 2022: Congratulations to group alum Mackenzie Marrs (CMC '15), who defended her Chemistry PhD at Boston University this month! She will start work at Vertex in July 2022.