The use of specific acids to modulate the reaction environment is crucial ... allowing for the efficient synthesis of internal alkynes from various substrates. This approach emphasizes atom ...

Kevin Shea focuses on organic chemistry. His lab uses organic synthesis to investigate new methods for carbon­-carbon bond formation and to develop syntheses of biologically active molecules.

The starting materials are a benzenediacetaldehyde (a benzene ring with two aldehydes attached), and two equivalents of a phenyl alkyne. The reaction is facilitated by a Lewis acid ... Dr Itami hopes ...