Recent Advances in Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis

 

Recent Advances in Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis

 

Date: 19^th March, 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm (HKT)

 

Venue: Lecture Theatre P2, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building

 

 

University College Dublin

 

Professor Guiry received his BSc (Honours) degree in Chemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland in 1986 and stayed to pursue his Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry, graduating in 1990, under the supervision of Professors Dervilla Donnelly (UCD) and Sir Derek Barton (Texas A&M). He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford with Dr John Brown FRS). He began his independent academic career at University College Dublin as a College Lecturer (1993-2002) and was then promoted to Senior Lecturer (2002-2004), Associate Professor (2004-2006) and then to Full Professor of Organic Chemistry (2006-present). His research group focuses on synthetic organic chemistry, with interests in both the development of asymmetric synthetic methodology through the application of new/existing chiral ligands in homogeneous metal-catalysed transformations and in the total synthesis of compounds of biological interest. He has supervised 70 PhDs to completion to date and worked with 24 postdoctoral fellows. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the the Boyle-Higgins Medal of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (2013), the Science Foundation Ireland Mentorship Award (2020), and the EuChemS Division of Organic Chemistry Service Award (2026). He was elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2013, its Science Secretary (2016-20) and is currently its President (2023-present). He was President of the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland (2022-25) and is an elected Member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland (2013-present). He is a keen tennis player who has 20 Irish titles to date and has represented/captained Ireland in the ITF World Championships in the over-35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 age categories, with a World ranking of 53 in the over-35 category in 1999.

 

This lecture will describe some of our recent results in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, including Pd-catalysed decarboxylative transformations, the design, synthesis and application of novel chiral ferrocene diol ligands in asymmetric catalysis with selected examples of unexpected reactivity, leading to the diastereoselective formation of ferrocene-containing tetraarylmethanes. The development of novel planar chiral cyclophane-containing ligands and their application in [3+2] cycloadditions will be discussed. In addition, the first enantioselective (3+2) cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and difluorocyclopropenes to give the corresponding densely functionalised fluorinated azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes in excellent yields, diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities across 21 examples, will be described.

 

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