Marco A. Medina -- PhD 1995

Scientific Career

Thesis Title
I. Configurational Stability of Unsubstituted Organolithium Reagents. II. Aggregation Behavior of Phenyllithium in Diethyl Ether Solution.
Research Summary Marco followed up on a project begun by Mike Bowe on the configurational stability of secondary organolithium reagents. Marco and Mike found that the Li/Te exchange was uniquely capable of forming secondary alkyllithiums with high stereochemical control. They made the remarkable observation that the rate of configurational inversion was increased both by going to solvents less polar than THF (such as ether), as well as by going to more polar solvents. Very slow epimerization rates were found in THF-PMDTA.

Marco also did some excellent work on the behavior of PhLi solutions, particularly in ether and ether-cosolvent mixtures.

Papers "Stereochemistry of a Cyclohexyllithium Reagent. A Case of Higher Configurational Stability in Strongly Coordinating Media," Hans J. Reich, Marco A. Medina, Michael D. Bowe, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 11003. (Communication) PDF

"Aggregation and Reactivity of Phenyllithium Solutions," Hans J. Reich, D. Patrick Green, Marco A. Medina, Wayne S. Goldenberg, Birgir Ö. Gudmundsson, Robert R. Dykstra, and Nancy H. Phillips, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 7201-7210. (Article)PDF Suppl.

Current Position Scientist in the Chemical Synthesis Operation
Pharmacia & Upjohn Caribe

Marco and family in 2000


For comments, additions and corrections, send e-mail to Hans J. Reich