Professor Andy A. Thomas

Andy A. Thomas is a U.S. chemist and currently an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on the development of synthetic methodologies using highly reactive intermediates.[1] Currently, he is investigating reaction site selectivity using lithium reagents,[2] intercepting ozonolysis intermediates,[3] and work in the area of ligand design.[4]

Early Life and Education

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Andy Thomas was born in Oakboro, North Carolina in 1988.

In 2006, he attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,obtaining his B.S. and M.S. with Prof. Craig A. Ogle.[5] In 2011, he joined Prof. Scott E. Denmark at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his PhD by studying the transmetalation step of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and characterizing the pre-transmetalation intermediates.[6][7] In 2017, he began his post-doctoral fellowship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Prof. Steven L. Buchwald, where he designed ligands for copper hydride catalyzed hydroamination.[8]

In 2020, he began his independent career as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University.[9]

Independent Career

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Lithium Chemistry

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Lithium Dendrites

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In 2022, Thomas and co. designed a method to recrystallize and make lithium dendrites- a lithium source that had 100 times more surface area than lithium powder. Furthermore, the dendrites proved to be highly effective in preparing organolithium reagents.[10]

Site Selectivity

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In 2023, a method to functionalize remote positions on heterocycles using lithium bases was designed.[11]

Ozonolysis

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Primary Ozonides

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In 2023, a method to produce syn-hydroxyls via capture of primary ozonide intermediates was described.

Research

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Currently, Thomas is leading a research group that specializes in synthetic methods using reactive materials.[12] Some major topics Thomas and his research group are focusing on are:

  • Synthetic methods for organolithium reagents
  • Constructive Ozonolysis
  • Synthesis of Reactive Materials
  • Design of Rapid-Injection NMR system


Recent Publications

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  • Wu, Dino & Martin, Robert & Piña, Jeanette & Kwon, Junho & Crockett, Michael & Thomas, Andy & Gutierrez, Osvaldo & Park, Nathaniel & Hedrick, James & Campos, Luis. (2024). Cyclopropenimine‐Mediated CO 2 Activation for the Synthesis of Polyurethanes and Small‐Molecule Carbonates and Carbamates. Angewandte Chemie. 10.1002/ange.202401281.
  • Thomas, Andy & Aguirre, Lupita & Litwiller, Levi & Lugo, Alexis. (2024). Design and Synthesis of Dialkylarylphosphine Urea Ligands and their Application in Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions. Helvetica Chimica Acta. 10.1002/hlca.202300244.
  • Arriaga, Danniel & Kang, Seokmin & Thomas, Andy. (2023). Effect of Solvent on the Rate of Ozonolysis: Development of a Homogeneous Flow Ozonolysis Protocol. The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 88. 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01372.


References

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  1. ^ "About". Thomas Group Website. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Breaking the tert-Butyllithium Contact Ion Pair: A Gateway to Alternate Selectivity in Lithiation Reactions". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145: 10743–10755. 2023. doi:10.1021/jacs.2c13047.,
  3. ^ "Capturing primary ozonides for a syn-dihydroxylation of olefins". Nat. Chem. 15: 1262–1266. 2023. doi:10.1038/s41557-023-01247-5. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Design and Synthesis of Dialkylarylphosphine Urea Ligands and their Application in Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions". Helv. Chim. Acta. Early Access. 2024. doi:10.1002/hlca.202300244. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Ogle Research Group". Ogle Research Group. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Denmark Group Alumni". Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ Thomas, Andy (15 Apr 2016). "Pre-transmetalation intermediates in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction revealed: The missing link". Science. 352 (6283): 329–332.
  8. ^ "People: Andy Thomas". The Buchwald Resarch Group. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Research Active Faculty". Chemistry Texas A&M University. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Preparation of Highly Reactive Lithium Metal Dendrites for the Synthesis of Organolithium Reagents". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144 (36): 16631–16637. 2022. doi:10.1021/jacs.2c07207. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Breaking the tert-Butyllithium Contact Ion Pair: A Gateway to Alternate Selectivity in Lithiation Reactions". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145 (19): 10743–10755. 2023. doi:10.1021/jacs.2c13047.
  12. ^ "Thomas Group Research". Thomas Group. Retrieved 12 April 2024.