M. Christina White

M. Christina White (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) is studying and developing selective allylic and aliphatic C—H oxidation reactions for general use in organic synthesis. Her group has contributed novel palladium/sulfoxide and iron catalysts that enable the functionalization of C—H bonds with predictable selectivities, under preparative conditions and in complex molecule settings- without the requirement for directing groups. These reactions have provided insights into the physical organic properties of C—H bonds that govern their differential reactivity and have led to strategic advances in synthesis.