Department of Chemistry
Assistant Professor
(Organic Chemistry, Ph.D. Harvard University, 2004)
(phone number not yet available)
Email: lalic@chem.washington.edu
The main focus of the Lalic group will be the development of practical transition-metal catalyzed transformations that address problems encountered in the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Our approach to reaction development will involve the synthesis of new transition-metal complexes, the systematic study of their reactivity, and the detailed exploration of reaction mechanisms. Finally, the utility of the transformations pioneered in our group will be demonstrated by the expedient total synthesis of complex organic molecules.
Our focus on both practical and fundamental aspects of reaction development will provide an opportunity for students in the group to get training and expertise in various aspects of organometallic, physical organic, and synthetic organic chemistry.
Enantioselective Fragment Coupling Reactions
The development of catalytic cross-coupling and enantioselective functionalization reactions in the last 30 years has revolutionized organic synthesis. One of the current challenges in organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis is the development of transformations that lead to both the increase in molecular complexity through fragment coupling and the concomitant enantioselective functionalization. Developing transformations of this type, such as carbohydroxylation of alkenes, is one of the main goals of our research.
Transition Metal-Catalyzed Transformations of Strained Heterocycles
Strained heterocycles, being readily available and thermodynamically unstable, are ideal yet underexploited substrates in metal-catalyzed transformations. Our goal is to explore the opportunities these molecules provide and discover new transformations that will be useful in synthesis of complex organic molecules.
Natural Product Synthesis
The synthesis of natural products will be an important part of our group's research. Our choice of target molecules will allow us to test the scope and utility of our methodologies, as well as provide inspiration for new ones.
Gojko Lalic, Jamin L. Krinsky, and Robert G. Bergman “The Scope and the Mechanism of SN2' Substitution Reactions of a Monomeric Imidozirconium Complex With Allylic Electrophiles” J. Am. Chem. Soc., in press.
Gojko Lalic and E. J. Corey, “An Effective Enantioselective Route to the Platensimycin Core” Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 4921.
Richard J. Fox, Gojko Lalic, and Robert G. Bergman “Regio- and Stereospecific Formation of Protected Allylic Alcohols via Zirconium-Mediated SN2' Substitution of Allylic Chlorides” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 14144.
Gojko Lalic, Suzanne A. Blum, and Robert G. Bergman, J. “Zirconium-Mediated SN2' Substitution of Allylic Ethers: Regio- and Stereospecific Formation of Protected Allylic Amines” Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 16790.
Derek Magdziak, Gojko Lalic, Hong Myung Lee, Kevin C. Fortner, Allen D. Aloise, and Matthew D. Shair “Catalytic Enantioselective Thioester Aldol Reactions That are Compatible With Protic Functional Groups” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 7284.
Kaichen Xu, Gojko Lalic, Scott M. Sheehan, and Matthew D. Shair “Dynamic Kinetic Resolution during a Cascade Reaction on Substrates with Chiral All-Carbon Quaternary Centers” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 2259.
2002-2003 Eli Lilly Predoctoral Fellowship
2002 Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Harvard University
1999-2000 Eli Lilly Predoctoral Fellowship
1998 Vojislav Stojanovic Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, University of Belgrade, Serbia
1994-1998 National Fellowship for Talented Students in Arts and Sciences, Serbia