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photo of Brenton DeBoef
  • Brenton DeBoef
  • Beaupre 325E
  • Professor of Chemistry
  • (401) 874-9480
  • Ph.D., Washington University
  • bdeboef@uri.edu

Research Interests: Organic Synthesis, Organometallic Catalysis

The overarching goal of our research program is the development of new approaches to organic synthesis. This can be accomplished in two ways:

     1) Inventing new synthetic transformations

     2) Developing new synthetic routes to interesting target molecules.

Specifically, we are harnessing and expand the emerging technology of C-H activation. In so doing, we intend to discover expedient, cost-effective, and routes to valuable commodity chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

A second goal of our work is the synthesis and analysis of macrocyclic complexes that can be use for biomedical imaging. This work involves chemical synthesis and analysis of host-guest interactions.  The ultimate goal of this research program is the development of a new molecular imaging platform that can be used to accurately diagnose a wide variety of diseases using the burgeoning technology of hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI.

To find out more about these research projects and the team of students who make it all happen, click on the website link to the left.


NSF Early Career Award, Pfizer Green Chemistry Award, Thieme Chemistry Journal Award
Industry Partners: Alcinous Pharmaceuticals