Find a Conference

California Wildfire Update (as of 1/13/2025 at 5PM EST) - We are currently operating safely at all California venues and all conferences are scheduled to proceed as planned. click here for more details

Organic Reactions and Processes

Gordon Research Conference

July 15 - 20, 2007
Chair
Vice Chair
Bryant University
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, Rhode Island, United States
 Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The 54th Gordon Research Conference on Organic Reactions and Processes will focus on the discovery of novel reactions and synthetic methods and their use in synthetic organic chemistry. The application of organometallic chemistry, the development of catalytic methods, the understanding of reaction mechanisms, and the synthesis of complex natural products are important recurring themes. Attention will also be given to pharmaceutical process research and development. Furthermore, the program will this year also make some room for the organic chemistry of synthetic molecular machines and sensors.

Poster sessions are a critical part of the conference and all conferees are encouraged to present on their recent work. Poster abstracts should be submitted at the time of an application to participate in the conference. Three posters will be selected from the two scheduled sessions for a 15 min oral presentation at the end of the conference.

Bryant University has proven to be an ideal location for the conference. The conference hall, dormitories, dining and leisure facilities are all excellent and the staff is very supportive.

Conference Program

SUNDAY
2:00 pm - 11:00 pmArrival and Check-in
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmWelcome / Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff & Jos Brands (conference chair)
7:40 pm - 9:30 pmDEVELOPMENT OF NEW CATALYTIC ASYMMETRIC REACTIONS I
Discussion Leader: Jeffrey Bode (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)
7:40 pm - 8:25 pm Amir Hoveyda (Boston College, USA)
"Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes: New Frontiers in Asymmetric Catalysis"
8:25 pm - 8:35 pm Discussion
8:35 pm - 9:20 pm Erick Carreira (ETH Zürich, Switzerland)
"Discoveries and Surprises with Small Molecules"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
MONDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 amGroup Photo
9:00 am - 11:15 amNEW METHODOLOGY FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF HETEROCYCLES
Discussion Leader: Jerry Murry (Amgen, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 am Tim Jamison (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
"Epoxide Opening Cascades"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 10:05 am John Werner (Eli Lilly, USA)
"The Role of New Technologies in Defining a Manufacturing Process for PPAR Alpha Agonist LY518674"
10:05 am - 10:15 am Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am Scott Nelson (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
"Reaction and Catalyst Designs for Heterocycle Construction via Nontraditional Cycloadditions"
10:45 am - 10:55 am Discussion
10:55 am Coffee Break
11:15 am - 12:30 pmCATALYSIS AND PROCESS CHEMISTRY
Discussion Leader: Todd Nelson (Merck Research Laboratories, USA)
11:15 am - 11:40 am Francis Gosselin (Merck Research Laboratories, USA)
"The Development of the Manufacturing Process for Cathepsin K Inhibitor MK-0822"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pm Matthew Gaunt (University of Cambridge, UK)
"New Catalytic Strategies for Chemical Synthesis"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session I
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmNEW SYNTHETIC METHODS FOR APPLICATION ON LARGE SCALE
Discussion Leader: Elizabeth Jarvo (University of California, Irvine, USA)
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Keji Maruoka (Kyoto University, Japan)
"Designer Chiral Phase Transfer Catalysts as Promising Organocatalysts for Practical Asymmetric Synthesis"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:40 pm Martin Karpf (Hoffman-La-Roche, Switzerland)
"The Synthetic Development of the Anti-Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitor Tamiflu: A Challenge for Synthesis and Process Research"
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm Jeffrey Bode (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)
"Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed, Enantioselective Annulations"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
TUESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 11:15 amNEW STRATEGIES FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS AND PHARMACEUTICALS
Discussion Leader: Lutz Ackermann (Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany)
9:00 am - 9:30 am Richmond Sarpong (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
"Strategies Inspired by Seven-Membered Ring Natural Products"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 10:05 am Albert Kruger (Abbott Laboratories)
"Development of a Scalable, Asymmetric Synthesis of a Potent DPP-IV Inhibitor: From Gram to Multi-kilogram Scale"
10:05 am - 10:15 am Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am Jennifer Love (University of British Columbia, Canada)
"Synthesis of Partially Fluorinated Aromatics via Selective C-F Activation"
10:45 am - 10:55 am Discussion
10:55 am Coffee Break
11:15 am - 12:30 pmSYNTHESIS WITH RADICALS AND PROCESS CHEMISTRY
Discussion Leader: Michel Coutourier (Bristol Meyers Squibb, Canada)
11:15 am - 11:40 am George Moniz (Amgen, USA)
“Development of an Enantio- and Diastereoselective Process for a Novel Therapeutic”
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pm Samir Zard (Ecole Polytechnique, France)
“Fun with Radicals: A Matter of Lifetime”
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 6:00 pmFree Time
6:00 pmDinner
7:25 pm - 7:30 pmBusiness Meeting (Part 1)
(Nomination of 2008 Vice-chair / 2009 Chair candidates)
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmASYMMETRIC REACTIONS AND THEIR ANALYSIS
Discussion Leader: Sheryl Wiskur (University of South Carolina, USA)
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Eric Anslyn (University of Texas at Austin, USA)
"Supramolecular Analytical Chemistry, From Conception to Practical Applications"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:40 pm Dietrich Steinhuebel (Merck Research Laboratories, USA)
"A Practical and Efficient Asymmetric Synthesis of a Merck Drug Candidate"
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm Alexandre Alexakis (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
"Recent Developments in Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
WEDNESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 11:15 amNEW REACTIONS AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
Discussion Leader: Hannah Yu (Eli Lilly, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 am Jeffrey Johnson (University of North Carolina, USA)
"New Reactions based on Polarity Reversal"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 10:05 am Lindsay Hobson (Bristol Meyers Squibb, USA)
"Process Development towards a Scaleable Synthesis of a Statin"
10:05 am - 10:15 am Discussion
10:15 am - 10:40 am Ian Ashworth (AstraZeneca, UK)
"Kinetic Studies of the Deprotection of N-Boc Protected Amines: Evidence of an Unexpected Acid Dependence"
10:40 am - 10:50 am Discussion
10:50 am Coffee Break
11:15 am - 12:30 pmPRACTICAL ORGANIC CATALYSIS
Discussion Leader: Jinquan Yu (Brandeis University, USA)
11:15 am - 11:40 am Benoit Pugin (Solvias, Switzerland)
"Modularity in New Chiral Ferrocenyl-Based Ligands for Enantioselective Hydrogenation - from Concepts to Production Scale Applications"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pm Matthias Beller (Rostock Institute for Organic Catalysis, Germany)
"The Development of Practical Catalysts for CC-coupling Reactions"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session II
6:00 pmDinner
7:20 pm - 7:30 pmBusiness Meeting (Part 2)
(Election of 2008 Vice-chair / 2009 Chair)
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmSYNTHESIS OF NATURAL AND UNNATURAL PRODUCTS
Discussion Leader: Ioannis Houpis (Johnson & Johnson, Belgium)
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm John Wood (Colorado State University, USA)
"Bridged Polycyclic Natural Products: Inspirational Targets for Total Synthesis"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:40 pm Joel Hawkins (Pfizer, USA)
"Reaction Profiling, Mechanism, and Scale Up"
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm Christina White (University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, USA)
"Streamlining Synthesis via C-H Oxidation"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
THURSDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 11:30 amCONTROL OF STEREOSELECTIVITY IN SYNTHESIS
Discussion Leader: Christina White (University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 am Ben Feringa (University of Groningen, The Netherlands)
"In Control of Chirality"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 10:10 am Stephen Challenger (Pfizer, UK)
"Practical Applications of Asymmetric Hydrogenations for the Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Intermediates"
10:10 am - 10:20 am Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am Joseph Ready (University of Texas SW Medical Center, USA)
"Stereoselective transformations of alkynes"
10:50 am - 11:00 am Discussion
11:00 am Coffee Break
11:20 am - 11:30 amBusiness Meeting (Part 3)
(Fill out Conference Evaluation Forms; Discuss future Site & Scheduling preferences)
11:30 am - 12:30 pmPOSTER AWARD PRESENTATIONS
Discussion Leader: Gregory Cook (North Dakota State University, USA)
11:30 am - 11:45 am Poster Presentation 1: John Grotjahn
"An Alkene Zipper: Bifunctional Catalysis of Selective and Extensive Alkene Isomerization"
11:45 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:05 pm Poster Presentation 2: Christiane Grise
"Gold Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted Tetrahydronaphthalenes"
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:25 pm Poster Presentation 3: Robert Hinkle
"One-Pot, Three-Component Mukaiyama Aldol/Silyl-Prins Reactions to Dihydropyrans"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmChair's Reception
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 8:30 pmDEVELOPMENT OF NEW CATALYTIC ASYMMETRIC REACTIONS II
Discussion Leader: Christina White (University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, USA)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pm Eric Jacobsen (Harvard University, USA)
"Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:30 pmTHE CHEMISTRY OF DOPING
Discussion Leader: Gregory Cook (North Dakota State University, USA)
8:30 pm - 9:20 pm Christiane Ayotte (INRS Institut Armand-Frappier, Canada)
"Urinary steroids profiling in athlete doping controls"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion and conference closing by Gregory Cook (2007 vice-chair)
FRIDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 amDepart

Contributors

We would like to express sincere gratitude to the following generous contributors:
Abbott Laboratories
Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
American Chemical Society
Amgen, Inc.
Anatrace
AstraZeneca AB
Asymchem Laboratories, Inc.
BASF Corporation
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Bristol Meyers Squibb Company
Cephalon, Inc.
Degussa
Dow Chemical Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Exelixis, Inc.
Gilead Sciences
GlaxoSmithKline
 Johnson Matthey, Inc.
J-Star Research
Lundbeck
Merck Research Laboratories
Neurogen Corporation
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Pfizer, Inc.
Procter and Gamble
Roche
Saltigo
Sanofi Aventis
Schering AG
Schering-Plough
Solvias
Takasago International Co.
WuXi Pharmatech Co., Ltd.
Wyeth Research

Conference Links

Conference History
Additional Fee Info

Heterocyclic Compounds
June 14 - 19, 2026
Organic Reactions and Processes (GRS)
June 13 - 14, 2026
Organometallic Chemistry
June 28 - July 3, 2026
Stereochemistry
July 19 - 24, 2026


Contact Us

MyGRC Account
Check your application status, complete your registration, update your poster, change your rooming preference, make a bus reservation, print an invitation letter, print a receipt (which includes verification that you are presenting a poster) or print an invoice by logging into your account.

GRC Venues
Everything you need to know, to plan your trip.

FAQs
Instant answers to common questions.

Tell us how we can help

Call us and leave a detailed message at: 401-783-4011

*This voicemail is only checked once daily. Due to high volume of requests during the conference season, responses may be delayed.

You have no notifications