Brian Michel
Associate Professor
303-871-2595 (Office)
Seeley G. Mudd Building, 2101 E. Wesley Ave. Denver, CO 80208
What I do
I teach and do research in the field of organic chemistry with special focus on design of small-molecule fluorescent probes and development of new methodologies utilizing transition metal catalysis.Professional Biography
BS from Western Washington University in 2006
PhD from University of Utah in 2011
Postdoctoral Scholar University of California, Berkeley 2011-2014
American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellow 2013-2014
Assistant Professor, University of Denver 2014-present
PhD from University of Utah in 2011
Postdoctoral Scholar University of California, Berkeley 2011-2014
American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellow 2013-2014
Assistant Professor, University of Denver 2014-present
Degree(s)
- Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Utah, 2011
- BS, Chemistry, Western Washington University, 2006
Job History
- Postdoctoral Scholar University of California, Berkeley 2011-2014
- American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellow 2013-2014
- Assistant Professor, University of Denver 2014-present
Research
Our research group has two main areas that we are interested in and often overlap.
Small Molecule Fluorescent Probes:
Our group takes mechanistic knowledge of organic chemistry to design small pro-fluorescent molecules to detect other small molecules of biological interest. We are especially interesting in molecules that are challenging to detect with traditional organic reactions and therefore require us to use creative organometallic approaches. For example we are currently developing methods more detecting the important plant hormone ethylene. These probes have a wide variety of applications ranging from detecting increases of our analyte on the sub-cellular level to deposition on solid supports for gas phase detection.
Organic Synthesis:
Our group designs new organic reactions. In particular we are interested in organometallic transformations and controlling fundamental steps, such as migratory insertion, to provide products of interest in high yields with high selectivity. An example we are currently working on is utilizing ynol ethers in transition metal catalyzed reactions.
Small Molecule Fluorescent Probes:
Our group takes mechanistic knowledge of organic chemistry to design small pro-fluorescent molecules to detect other small molecules of biological interest. We are especially interesting in molecules that are challenging to detect with traditional organic reactions and therefore require us to use creative organometallic approaches. For example we are currently developing methods more detecting the important plant hormone ethylene. These probes have a wide variety of applications ranging from detecting increases of our analyte on the sub-cellular level to deposition on solid supports for gas phase detection.
Organic Synthesis:
Our group designs new organic reactions. In particular we are interested in organometallic transformations and controlling fundamental steps, such as migratory insertion, to provide products of interest in high yields with high selectivity. An example we are currently working on is utilizing ynol ethers in transition metal catalyzed reactions.
Areas of Research
Organic Synthesis
Key Projects
- Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Ethylene
Featured Publications
. (2014). A boronate-caged [¹?F]FLT probe for hydrogen peroxide detection using positron emission tomography. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(42), 14742-5.
. (2012). A reaction-based fluorescent probe for selective imaging of carbon monoxide in living cells using a palladium-mediated carbonylation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134(38), 15668-71.
. (2009). A general and efficient catalyst system for a Wacker-type oxidation using TBHP as the terminal oxidant: application to classically challenging substrates. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(17), 6076-7.
Awards
- Faculty Career Champion, University of Denver
