Dr. Joseph R. Clark

Dr. Joseph R. ClarkMarquette University

Wehr Chemistry Building, 633

MilwaukeeWI53201United States of America(414) 288-7859joseph.r.clark@marquette.eduThe Clark Lab

Assistant Professor

Transition Metal Catalysis and Organic Synthesis

Education

Ph.D., University at Buffalo

B.S., St. John Fisher College

Research Interests

Leveraging selective transition metal-catalysis to advance the synthesis of drug targets and natural products

The Clark Group engages in new reaction discovery to enable the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals and natural products. At the core of our research program is the development of selective transition metal-catalyzed reactions. Researchers will be involved in reaction discovery, ligand/catalyst synthesis, ligand/catalyst optimization, reaction optimization and reaction development with the ultimate goal of applying new organic transformations to complex molecule synthesis. Furthermore, we will engage in understanding the reactivity and selectivity principles guiding our reactions. This will facilitate the transformation of new reaction discovery into practical methods for modern organic synthesis.

Selected Publications

• Clark, J. R.; Feng, K.; Sookezian, A.; White, M. C. "Manganese-Catalyzed Benzylic C(sp3)-H Amination for Late-Stage Functionalization." Nature Chemistry 2018, 10, 583-591.
• Howell, J. M.; Feng, K.; Clark, J. R.; Trzepkowski, L. J.; White, M. C. "Remote Oxidation of Aliphatic C?H Bonds in Nitrogen-Containing Molecules." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 14590-14593.
• Diver, S. T.; Clark, J. R. "Ene-Yne Metathesis." Comp. Org. Synth II. 2014, 5, 1302-1356.
• Clark, J. R.; Griffith, J. R.; Diver, S. T. "Ruthenium Hydride Promoted Dienyl Isomerization: Access to Highly Substituted 1,3 Dienes." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 3327-3330.
• Clark, J. R.; French, J. M.; Jecs, E.; Diver, S. T. "Geminal Alkene-Alkyne Cross Metathesis Using a Relay Strategy." Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4178-4181.
• Clark, J. R.; French, J. M.; Diver, S. T. "Alkene Metathesis Approach to ß-Unsubstituted Anti-Allylic Alcohols and Their Use in Ene-Yne Metathesis." J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 1599-1604.
• Clark, J. R.; Diver, S. T. "Atom Economy in the Metathesis Cross-Coupling of Alkenes and Alkynes." Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 2896-2899.
• Clark, D. A.; Clark, J. R.; Diver, S. T. "Alkenol-Alkyne Cross Metathesis." Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 2055-2058.

Professional Experience

Joseph Clark was born and raised in Rochester, NY. He attended St. John Fisher College where he studied new transformations with benzene oxide under the direction of Professor Daniel Piccolo, graduating with a B.S. in chemistry in 2008. Continuing his interest in organic chemistry method development and catalysis, he completed a Ph.D. in June of 2014 in the research group of Professor Steven T. Diver at the University at Buffalo. While under the direction of Professor Diver, he developed new methods for the synthesis of 1,3 dienes. Joseph was awarded both the Speyer and Silbert graduate fellowships for excellence in research along with the Mattern-Tyler award for excellence in teaching. He joined Professor M. Christina White’s group in September of 2014 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and worked on developing new base metal-catalyzed methods for intermolecular C—H functionalization. While in the White group he received a NIH NRSA Ruth Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship. Joseph joined the chemistry faculty at Marquette University in August of 2018 as an Assistant Professor. He is an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys running, biking, playing tennis, golf and racquetball during his free time.