Pieber Group

Catalysis and Synthetic Methodology

Sunlight provides the energy that drives many of the chemical transformations found in nature. In synthetic organic chemistry, visible light offers an attractive way to similarly control chemical reactivity and transform simple building blocks into complex molecules. Unlike conventional reagents, light is non-toxic, generates no chemical waste, and can be obtained from renewable sources.

The PieberLab has a fundamental interest in developing new concepts in catalysis and synthetic chemistry, with a particular focus on accessing open-shell intermediates through light-mediated processes and harnessing their unique reactivity for molecular synthesis. We develop photocatalysts and catalytic strategies that enable challenging transformations under mild conditions, while seeking to make synthetic chemistry more sustainable, robust, and efficient.

Our research is driven by curiosity and mechanistic understanding. By combining synthetic organic chemistry, catalysis, photochemistry, and physical-organic chemistry, we aim to uncover new catalysts and modes of reactivity in order to develop practical solutions to challenging problems in molecular synthesis.