ProfessorDeclan Gerard Gilheany

My interests lie in the general area of organic synthesis, for the construction of both useful and theoretically interesting molecules, particularly: stoichiometric and, especially, catalytic enantioselective synthesis; organophosphorus chemistry; organo-Main group chemistry; medium rings, small multicyclic heterocycles; and theories of chemical bonding.

Author of 92 original research articles, reviews & patents in the area of organic synthesis, catalysis and phosphorus chemistry. H-Index 28 (incl. 4 book chapters); Total citations >2000; Total refereed publications >120. To date, approx. €7.6M research funding (Irish government, EU & Irish industry). A breakthrough technology commercialised via a start-up company (Celtic Catalysts, restricted publication in the period 2007-2010). Supervised 36 PhDs/10 PDRAs to date. Current: 6 PhDs/2 PDRAs.

>60 Plenary, Keynote, Invited and Contributed Lectures at conferences and symposia in US, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria and Portugal. My group has also made >100 International presentations (Talks & Posters, many Prize-winning)

Research Successes include:
• Dynamic resolution of phosphines and their oxides to make P-stereogenic phosphorus compounds.
• Best-in-class catalysts (Rh turnover >100,000) for amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation.
• Experimental evidence securing the Wittig reaction as a [2+2] cycloaddition. Also an easy Wittig work-up.
• Detection of the intermediate and mechanism of phosphonium ylide hydrolysis (w/ Dr. P. Byrne).
• Deoxygenation of phosphine oxides and aminophosphine oxides without loss of the P-N bond.
• Air-stable primary phosphines: their synthesis and insight into their stability (w/ Dr. L. Higham)
• Catalytic asymmetric alkene epoxidation using chromium salen complexes as catalysts.
• A general route to 7-membered carbocycles and heterocycles containing O, N, P or S.
• A new synthesis of azulenes giving a previously inaccessible substitution pattern.
• A coherent theoretical descriptions of the P=C and P=O bonds.
• De novo synthesis of novel monosaccharides with potential therapeutic value (publication embargoed)
• Asymmetric Grignard synthesis of tertiary alcohols, and use for vitamin E of high purity.
• Direct evidence of a multicentre (5c-6e) halogen bond in phosphonium halides (w/ Dr. K. Nikitin)
• Dual Resolution of P-Stereogenic Phosphine Oxides (w/ Dr. K. Nikitin)
• 1st authentic Stephens rearrangement at P & proof of through conjugation via phosphonium (PhD).