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Home > Academics > Academic Programs > Chemistry Home > Faculty/Staff > Kevin Shea
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Smith College
Office: Ford Hall 312
Phone: (413)-585-4687
Fax: (413)-585-3786
Email: kshea(at)science.smith.edu
Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Organic Chemistry, 2000
Thesis: Studies on Polycyclic Unsaturated Compounds: 1. Synthesis and Properties of Cyclopenta[a]phenalenes 2. Synthesis of Substituted Azulenes.
Advisor: Rick L. Danheiser
B.S. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Chemistry, 1995
Smith College, 2000-2007, Assistant Professor
Smith College, 2007-present, Associate Professor
Smith College Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning, 2010-present, Director
CHM 108: Environmental Chemistry
CHM 111: Chemistry I: General Chemistry
CHM 222: Chemistry II: Organic Chemistry I
CHM 223: Chemistry III: Organic Chemistry II
CHM 226: Synthesis and Structural Analysis
CHM 321: Organic Synthesis
CHM 326: Synthesis and Structural Analysis
Organic Chemistry - I use organic synthesis to investigate new methods for carbon-carbon bond formation and to develop syntheses of biologically active molecules. Completed research focused on the application of tandem Nicholas and Pauson-Khand reactions for the synthesis of tricyclic heterocycles. Ongoing research involves expanding the use of cobalt-alkyne complexes in organic synthesis. One project is focused on production of dienes containing cobalt-alkyne complexes and evaluation of these materials in Diels-Alder reactions. Our ultimate goal is to develop a tandem Diels-Alder/Pauson-Khand protocol for the production of tetracyclic compounds. Another project aims to develop novel cationic Diels-Alder dienophiles stabilized by cobalt-alkyne complexes. A third project involves production of cyclic alkynes for use in click chemistry applications. Our newest project is a collaboration with Adam Hall's neuroscience laboratory for the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel anesthetic compounds.
Honors Students
Summer Students
STRIDE/AEMES/Special Studies Students
Olson, J. A.; Shea, K. M. "Additions and Corrections to Critical Perspective: Named Reactions Discovered and Developed by Women," Acc. Chem. Res., 2012, 45, 482-483.
Olson, J. A.; Shea, K. M. "Critical Perspective: Named Reactions Discovered and Developed by Women," Acc. Chem. Res., 2011, 44, 311-321.
Shea, K. M. "The Diels-Alder Reaction," In Name Reactions for Carbocyclic Ring Formations; Li, J. J., Ed.; Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, 2010; 275-308.
Closser, K. D.; Quintal, M. M.; Shea, K. M. “The Scope and Limitations of Intramolecular Nicholas and Pauson-Khand Reactions for the Synthesis of Tricyclic Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles,“ J. Org. Chem., 2009, 74, 3680-3688.
Shea, K. M. “The Nicholas Reaction,“ In Name Reactions for Homologations-1; Li, J. J., Ed.; Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, 2009; 284-298.
Shea, K. M. “The Grob Fragmentation,“ In Name Reactions for Homologations-2; Li, J. J., Ed.; Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, 2009; 452-463.
Shea, K. M. "Martin's Sulfurane Dehydrating Reagent," In Name Reactions for Functional Group Transformations; Li, J. J., Corey, E. J., Eds.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, 2007; 248-264.
Shea, K. M. “Furans and benzo[b]furans,” In Palladium in Heterocyclic Chemistry: A Guide for the Synthetic Chemist; 2nd Ed., Li, J. J., Gribble, G. W., Eds.; Elsevier: Boston, MA, 2007; 303-344.
Shea, K. M.; Closser, K. D.; Quintal, M. M. “Nicholas Reactions with Carboxylic Acids for the Synthesis of Macrocyclic Diolides” J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 9088-9091.
Quintal, M. M.; Closser, K. D.; Shea, K. M. “Tandem Intramolecular Nicholas and Pauson-Khand Reactions for the Synthesis of Tricyclic Oxygen-Containing Heterocycles,” Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 4949-4952.
Crombie, A. L.; Kane, J. L., Jr.; Shea, K. M.; Danheiser, R. L. “Ring Expansion-Annulation Strategy for the Synthesis of Substituted Azulenes and Oligoazulenes. 2. Synthesis of Azulenyl Halides, Sulfonates, and Azulenylmetal Compounds and Their Application in Transition-Metal-Mediated Coupling Reactions,” J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 8652-8667.
Shea, K. M. “Feist-Bénary furan synthesis,” In Name Reactions in
Heterocyclic Chemistry; Li, J. J., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ,
2004; 160-167.
Shea, K. M. “Paal-Knorr furan synthesis,” In Name Reactions in
Heterocyclic Chemistry; Li, J. J., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ,
2004; 168-182.
Kane, J. L., Jr.; Shea, K. M.; Crombie, A., L.; Danheiser, R. L. "A Ring Expansion-Annulation Strategy for the Synthesis of Substituted Azulenes. Preparation and Suzuki Coupling Reactions of 1-Azulenyl Triflates," Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1081-1084.
Shea, K. M.; Lee, K., L.; Danheiser, R. L. "Synthesis and Properties of 9-Alkyl- and 9-Arylcyclopenta[a]phenalenes," Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 2353-2356.
American Chemical Society - chemical education and organic division member
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