Research

Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold
N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are ultra stable ligands for gold and other metal surfaces. We are broadening the application of NHCs to curved nanomaterials such as nanoparticles and nanoclusters
Asymmetric Catalysis & Organoboron Chemistry
Utilizing enantioenriched boronic esters as valuable starting materials for enantiospecific cross-coupling reactions. Continuous exploration of new enantiospecific transformations and mechanistic understanding.


Borenium Catalysis
Unique molecules containing a highly Lewis-acidic boron atom capable of catalyzing useful reduction reactions. Expansion of scope of the structure and reactivity of borenium ions towards new metal-free catalytic reactions.
Publications
N-Heterocyclic carbene-functionalized magic number gold nanoclusters
N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Materials Chemistry
Cu-Catalyzed Desulfonative Amination of Benzhydryl Sulfones
Generation and Conversion of an N-Heterocyclic Carbene on Pt(111)
Synthesis of Diblock and Triblock Polymers from Cyclooctadiene and Norbornene Via ROMP in Miniemulsion
A Career In Catalysis: Howard Alper
Modular Synthesis of a-fluorinated Arylmethanes via Desulfonative Cross-Coupling

Nature Communications, 2019, accepted for publication.
Robust, Highly Luminescent Au13 Superatoms Protected by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes
Copper-Catalyzed Desulfonative Cross-Coupling of Benzhydryl Sulfones with Azoles
Pyridine-Catalyzed Desulfonative Borylation of Benzyl Sulfones
The Group

Emily Albright
PhD Candidate

Mina Narouz
PhD Candidate

Dr. Yuuki Maekawa
Post Doc

Dr. Paul Lummis
Post Doc

Dianne Lee
Phd Candidate

Alex Veinot
Phd Candidate

Josh Clarke
PhD Candidate

Ishwar Singh
PhD Candidate

Dr. Tetyana Levchenko
Post Doc

Zach Ariki
PhD Candidate

Dr. Hriday Bhattacharjee
Post Doc

Nicole Dozois
MSc Candidate

Laurence Yeh
Undergraduate Student

Dr. Srijit Nair
Post Doc

Dr. Kim Osten
Post Doc (ITbM)

Dr. Jacky Yim
Post Doc (ITbM)

Dr. Renee Man
Post Doc (ITbM)
The Boss
In 1996, Cathleen started her own research group at the University of New Brunswick. In 2002, she moved to Queen’s University.
In 2013, Cathleen was offered a position as a member of the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) at Nagoya University where she runs a full-time satellite lab.
Cathleen is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and the recipient of the 2019 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award.
“I truly believe that a happy student is a productive student. Therefore, I do my best to ensure that all my students are contented.”
“It’s very important that students are able to do their own problem solving and work independently, especially when it comes to research ideas. I try to encourage students to develop and pursue their own ideas.”
“I usually suggest that students choose two projects, one relatively safe and one more risky. This way, students can work a really exciting project and at the same time, be confident that they will leave my group with publications.”
Site Revamp
We’re looking fresh and clean with a complete site redesign by one of our very own PhD students! Thanks, Zach.
In Situ with Cathleen Crudden
Check out the latest edition of Chemistry World’s In Situ, with none other than Dr. C!