About the Organic Topical Group
The NJACS Organic Chemistry Topical group brings together New Jersey's organic chemists from academia, companies and the pharmaceutical industry -- hosting regular meetings and semi-annual symposia. 2020 Board
Dr. Susan Zultanski (Chair)
Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, NJ
732-594-3840
Professor Yalan Xing (Chair Elect)
William Patterson University
848-445-4361
Dr. Michael Smith (Treasurer)
Bristol-Myers Squibb
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
732-227-3231
Professor Joseph Badillo (Secretary)
Seton Hall University
973-761-9041
Dr. Chunrui Sun
Merck Research Laboratories
Kenilworth, NJ
Dr. Saurin Raval
J-Star Research
609-860-1300
Leslie Trigoura (student member)
William Paterson University
Kenilworth, NJ
Usha Kalra (student member)
Seton Hall University
Mary Chioma Okorie (student member)
Seton Hall University
(Past Events)
Nov 21, 2019 – Technology & Innovation in Organic Chemistry
Organic Topical Group Fall Symposium
Award for Technology & Innovation in Organic Chemistry
Award recipient: Dr Ann Weber
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2019
Times: 8:00 AM - Check-in & breakfast
Times: 9:20 AM - Symposium begins
Times: 12:30 PM - Lunch
Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873
[ directions | register | flyer | OTG homepage | Committee ]Presentations
 |
Prof. Tomislav Rovis (Columbia University) Controlling Catalysis with Visible Light |
 |
Dr. Subharekha Raghavan (Merck & Co.) High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) Capabilities at Merck Enabling New Paradigms in Drug Discovery |
 |
Prof. Amie Boal (Penn State University) New Experimental Approaches to Understand Control of Reaction Outcome in Aliphatic Halogenases |
 |
Prof. Lee Cronin (University of Glasgow) The Chemputer: A Universal Programmable Chemical Synthesis Engine |
 |
Prof. Song Lin (Cornell University) Catalyzing Synthetic Electrochemistry |
 |
Dr. Matthew Bio (Snapdragon Chemistry) Mighty Machines: Integrated Design of Chemical Processes and Flow Reactor Systems |
Schedule
|
8:00 – 9:20 |
Registration/breakfast/networking |
|
9:20 – 9:30 |
Dr.
Sue Zultanski (Merck) Welcoming
remarks |
|
|
Professor
Lee Cronin (University of Glasgow) The
Chemputer: A Universal Programmable Chemical Synthesis Engine Introduced by Dr.
Mike Smith (Bristol-Myers Squibb) |
|
|
Dr.
Subharekha Raghavan (Merck) High-Throughput
Experimentation (HTE) Capabilities at Merck Enabling New Paradigms in Drug
Discovery Introduced by Dr. Chunrui Sun (Merck) |
|
11:10 – 11:40 |
AM
Coffee Break |
|
11:40 – 12:30 |
Professor
Song Lin (Cornell University) Catalyzing
Synthetic Electrochemistry Introduced by Professor Yalan Xing (William
Paterson University) |
|
12:30 – 1:30 |
Lunch |
|
1:30 – 2:20 |
Professor
Amie Boal (Penn State University) New
Experimental Approaches to Understand Control of Reaction Outcome in
Aliphatic Halogenases Introduced by Professor Enver Izgu (Rutgers
University) |
|
2:20 – 3:10 |
Dr.
Matthew Bio (Snapdragon Chemistry) Mighty
Machines: Integrated Design of Chemical Processes and Flow Reactor Systems Introduced by Dr. Ken Fraunhoffer (Bristol-Myers
Squibb) |
|
3:10 – 3:40 |
PM
Coffee Break |
|
3:40 – 4:30 |
Professor
Tom Rovis (Columbia University) Controlling
Catalysis with Visible Light Introduced by Professor Joe Badillo (Seton
Hall University) |
|
4:30-4:40 |
Dr.
Sue Zultanski (Merck) Concluding
remarks |
Organizing Committee
Registration
- Registration fee is $125.00 (which includes symposium and lunch).
Students: $15 (limited number of seats) - Due to limited seating, the deadline for registration and payment is November 12
- Please register & pay online below with a credit / debit card.
Please Note: Registration and payment are two separate steps!
Pay Registration Fee
Register
(Past Events)
Nov 29, 2018 – Creativity Award Symposium
Organic Topical Group Fall Symposium
Award for Creativity in Molecular Design and Synthesis
Award recipient: Dr Ann Weber
Date: Thursday, November 29, 2018
Time: Check-in & breakfast at 8:00 AM. Symposium begins at 9:00 AM
Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873
[ directions | register | flyer | OTG homepage | Committee ]Presentations
 |
Dr. Ann Weber (Kallyope Inc.) Keynote Address: Adventures in Drug Discovery |
 |
Prof. Vy Dong (University of California - Irvine) A Few of My Favorite Rings: Catalysis with Metal-Hydrides |
 |
Prof. Jon Ellman (Yale University) New Bond Connections by C-H Functionalization for the Convergent Synthesis of Bioactive Molecules |
 |
Dr. Emma Parmee (Merck Research Laboratories) The Importance of Lead Identification in Drug Discovery |
 |
Prof. Christina Woo (Harvard) Discovery of small molecule binding site hotspots using photo-affinity labeling chemical proteomics |
 |
Prof. Greg Fu (California Institute of Technology) Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: A Radical Alternative to SN1 and SN2 Reactions |
Schedule
|
8:00 – 9:20 |
Registration/breakfast/networking |
|
9:20 – 9:30 |
Dr. Ken Fraunhoffer (Bristol-Myers
Squibb) Welcoming remarks |
|
9:30 – 10:20 |
Professor Corinna Schindler
(University of Michigan) Iron(III)-Catalyzed
Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis Introduced
by Professor Yalan Xing, William Paterson University |
|
10:20 – 11:10 |
Dr. Ke Chen (Bristol-Myers Squibb) Design and Development of the Commercial
Process for a Tyk2 Inhibitor Introduced by Dr. Ken Fraunhoffer (Bristol-Myers Squibb) |
|
11:10 – 11:40 |
AM
Coffee Break |
|
11:40 – 12:30 |
Professor Todd Hyster (Princeton University) Using Enzymes as Catalysts for Non-Natural
Free Radical Reactions Introduced by Dr. Mike Smith (Bristol-Myers Squibb) |
|
12:30 – 1:30 |
Lunch |
|
1:30 – 2:20 |
Dr. Dani Schultz (Merck) Remote Functionalization
of C–H Bonds of Aliphatic Amines via Decatungstate Photocatalysis Introduced by Dr. Sue Zultanski,
Merck |
|
2:20 – 3:10 |
Professor Noah Burns (Stanford University) Synthesis and Study of Unusual Lipids Introduced by Dr. Steve
Silverman, Merck |
|
3:10 – 3:40 |
PM Coffee Break |
|
3:40 – 4:30 |
Professor Alex Radosevich (MIT) Catalytic Synthetic Methods Based on P(III) ⇌ P(V) Redox Cycling Introduced by Dr. Mike Zacuto, Celgene |
|
4:30-4:40 |
Dr. Steve Silverman (Merck) Concluding remarks |
Organizing Committee
Registration
- Registration fee is $120.00 (which includes symposium and lunch).
Students: $45 (limited number of seats) - Deadline for registration and payment: November 19, 2018
- Please register & pay online below with a credit / debit card.
Please Note: Registration and payment are two separate steps!
Pay Registration Fee
Register
(Past Events)
Nov 30, 2017 – Early Career Symposium
The Organic Topical Group's Fall 2017 Event
Early Career Symposium
Date: Thursday, November 30, 2017
Time: Check-in & breakfast at 8:00 AM. Symposium begins at 9:20 AM
Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873
[ directions | register | flyer | OTG homepage | Committee ]
Presentations
 |
Prof. Noah Burns (Stanford) Synthesis and Study of Unusual Lipids |
 |
Dr. Ke Chen (Bristol-Myers Squibb) Design and Development of the Commercial Process for a Tyk2 Inhibitor |
 |
Professor Corinna Schindler (University of Michigan) Iron(III)-Catalyzed Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis |
 |
Professor Todd Hyster (Princeton) Using Enzymes as Catalysts for Non-Natural Free Radical Reactions |
 |
Dr. Dani Schultz (Merck) Remote Functionalization of C–H Bonds of Aliphatic Amines via Decatungstate Photocatalysis |
 |
Professor Alex Radosevich (MIT) Catalytic Synthetic Methods Based on P(III) ⇌ P(V) Redox Cycling |
Schedule
|
8:00 – 9:20 |
Registration/breakfast/networking |
|
9:20 – 9:30 |
Dr. Ken Fraunhoffer (Bristol-Myers
Squibb) Welcoming remarks |
|
9:30 – 10:20 |
Professor Corinna Schindler
(University of Michigan) Iron(III)-Catalyzed
Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis Introduced
by Professor Yalan Xing, William Paterson University |
|
10:20 – 11:10 |
Dr. Ke Chen (Bristol-Myers Squibb) Design and Development of the Commercial
Process for a Tyk2 Inhibitor Introduced by Dr. Ken Fraunhoffer (Bristol-Myers Squibb) |
|
11:10 – 11:40 |
AM
Coffee Break |
|
11:40 – 12:30 |
Professor Todd Hyster (Princeton University) Using Enzymes as Catalysts for Non-Natural
Free Radical Reactions Introduced by Dr. Mike Smith (Bristol-Myers Squibb) |
|
12:30 – 1:30 |
Lunch |
|
1:30 – 2:20 |
Dr. Dani Schultz (Merck) Remote Functionalization
of C–H Bonds of Aliphatic Amines via Decatungstate Photocatalysis Introduced by Dr. Sue Zultanski,
Merck |
|
2:20 – 3:10 |
Professor Noah Burns (Stanford University) Synthesis and Study of Unusual Lipids Introduced by Dr. Steve
Silverman, Merck |
|
3:10 – 3:40 |
PM Coffee Break |
|
3:40 – 4:30 |
Professor Alex Radosevich (MIT) Catalytic Synthetic Methods Based on P(III) ⇌ P(V) Redox Cycling Introduced by Dr. Mike Zacuto, Celgene |
|
4:30-4:40 |
Dr. Steve Silverman (Merck) Concluding remarks |
Organizing Committee
Registration
- Registration fee is $120.00 (which includes symposium and lunch).
Students: $45 (limited number of seats) - Deadline for registration and payment: November 20, 2017 Note: Deadline is being extended -- but please sign-up right away!
- Please register & pay online below with a credit / debit card.
Please Note: Registration and payment are two separate steps!
Pay Registration Fee
Register
(Past Events)
Dec 3, 2015 – Innovation in Drug Discovery 2015
The Organic Topical Group's 2015 Symposium
Innovation in Drug Discovery
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015
Time: Check-in & breakfast at 8:30 AM. Symposium begins at 9:20 AM
Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873
[ directions | register | flyer | OTG homepage ]
Presentations
 |
Nils Lonberg (BMS) Targeting the Immune System for Cancer Therapy |
 |
Alexander Ruchelman (Celgene) Apremilast: From Discovery to Commercialization |
 |
Mike Kress (Merck) Contemporary Process Chemistry Solutions: |
 |
Peter Senter (Seattle Genetics) Antibody Drug Conjugates: From Preclinical Research to an Approved Drug and Beyond |
 |
Professor Seth Herzon (Yale University) Synthetic and Translational Studies of the Diazofluorene Antitumor Antibiotics |
 |
Dennis Liotta (Emory University) The Role of CXCR4 Modulators in Controlling HIV Entry, Stem Cell Mobilization and Certain Types of Cancer |
Program Agenda
| 8:30 am | Breakfast and Registration |
| 9:20 am | Introductory Remarks |
| 9:30 am | Professor Dennis Liotta (Emory University)
The Role of CXCR4 Modulators in Controlling HIV Entry, Stem Cell Mobilization and Certain Types of Cancer |
| 10:20 am | Alexander Ruchelman (Celgene)
Apremilast: From Discovery to Commercialization |
| 11:10 am | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 am | Mike Kress (Merck)
Contemporary Process Chemistry Solutions: Good Enough is Never Good Enough |
| 12:20 pm | Lunch |
| 1:10 pm | Nils Lonberg (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
Targeting the Immune System for Cancer Therapy |
| 2:00 pm | Professor Seth Herzon (Yale University)
Synthetic and Translational Studies of the Diazofluorene Antitumor Antibiotics |
| 2:50 pm | Coffee break |
| 3:10 pm | Peter Senter (Seattle Genetics)
Antibody Drug Conjugates: From Preclinical Research to an Approved Drug and Beyond |
| 4:00 pm | Concluding Remarks |
Organizing Committee
- Amjad Ali, (Co-Chair, Merck) [ email ]
- Ken Fraunhoffer (BMS) [ email ]
- Eric Mertz (Merck) [ email ]
- Steve Silverman (Merck) [ email ]
- Lawrence Williams (Co-Chair, Rutgers) [ email ]
Registration
- Registration fee is $100.00 (which includes breakfast and lunch)
Deadline for registration and payment: November 20, 2015Deadline extended to December 2nd- Please register & pay online below with a credit / debit card. Registration and payment are two separate steps.
Pay Registration Fee
Register
(Past Events)
Dec 5, 2014 – Award for Creativity in Molecular Design & Synthesis
OTG 2014 Award Symposium
2014 Award Recipient – Professor David MacMillan
Professor MacMillan will be recognized “for his pioneering work in the field of enantioselective catalysis, new reaction methodology and natural product synthesis”.
Venue: West Auditorium Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 675 Hoes Lane West-Piscataway, NJ
park In Lots 54, 54A 58 & 58A without permits
Date: Friday, December 5, 2014
Times: 12:00 PM – Registration
12:30 PM – Symposium
Please distribute this
Speakers
- Prof. Stephen Buchwald (MIT)
- Prof. Paul Reider (Princeton Univ)
- Prof. Rob Knowles (Princeton Univ)
- Prof. Gary Molander (U. Penn)
- Prof. David MacMillan (Princeton Univ)
Sponsors
Program
| 12:00–12:30 | Registration |
| 12:30–12:40 | Welcome Address: Dr. Ron Kong, Symposium Chair |
| 12:40–1:30 | Prof. Gary A. Molander (U. Penn)
Novel Mechanistic Paradigm for Organoboron Cross-Coupling |
| 1:30–2:20 | Prof. Paul Reider (Princeton U.) Chemistry in Service to Society:
35 Years of Success and Failure Bringing New Medicines to the Patients Who Need Them |
| 2:20–3:10 | Prof. Rob Knowles (Princeton U.)
Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Organic Synthesis and Asymmetric Catalysis |
| 3:10–3:40 | Break / Refreshments |
| 3:40–4:30 | Prof. Stephen Buchwald (MIT)
Metal-Catalyzed Transformations in Organic Chemistry |
| 4:30–4:40 | Award Presentation (Dr. Monica Sekharan, NJ-ACS Chair) |
| 4:40–5:30 | Keynote: Prof. David MacMillan (Princeton U.)
Photoredox Catalysis: New Reactions of Value to Medicinal and Process Chemistry |
| 5:30 | Closing remarks: Dr. Les McQuire, NJACS Awards Chair |
Retrospective of the 2014 Symposium
T
he 2014 Award for Creativity in Molecular Design and Synthesis was presented to Professor David MacMillan, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Chair and Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, at a symposium held at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ on December 6th. More than 130 industrial chemists, students, and faculty from North Jersey and surrounding sections attended. Dr. MacMillan was recognized for his “initiative, creativity, leadership, and perseverance in pure and/or applied chemistry.”
In his keynote address, Professor MacMillan described his lab’s cutting-edge research on photoredox catalysis to organic synthesis. Its implementation has led to the discovery of a myriad of individual reactions. Other speakers included Stephen Buchwald, Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, whose research combines elements of organic chemistry, organic synthesis, and organometallic chemistry to devise catalytic processes; Rob Knowles, Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, whose research focuses on synthetic applications of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions; Gary A. Molander, Hirschman Makineni Professor and Chair at the University of Pennsylvania, whose research interests are in the development of new synthetic methods for organic synthesis; and, Paul J. Reider, Teaching Professor at Princeton University, where his research is focused on new drugs for Malaria, TB and other neglected diseases.
Dr. Ronald Kong, Award Chair and Chair-elect of the North Jersey Section, welcomed the guests and described the award. Dr. Monica Sekharan, Section Chair presented the award plaque and honorarium to Professor MacMillan. Dr. Les McQuire, NJ-ACS Awards Chair gave the closing remarks and invited attendees to send him names of NJACS members who deserve recognition for their scientific accomplishments and volunteerism.
Awardees are acknowledged for their broad impact in the areas of chemical synthesis, method development, bioorganic/medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and/or molecular recognition. Visit the North Jersey Section’s website, www.njacs.org, for more details.
NJACS is grateful to the sponsors of this event – Merck, WuXi AppTec, Agilent Technologies, and Rutgers University.
Registration Payment
You are requested to pre-pay the registration fee here:
Register
(Past Events)
Nov 14, 2012 – The 2012 Award for Creativity in Molecular Design & Synthesis
The Scripps Research Institute and the University of California, San Diego
Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park, 333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873
Click here for: Directions | Flyer | Registration | Pay Registration Fee
Date: Held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
8:00 am Sign-in begins
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Symposium
12:00 pm Lunch
Symposium (including banquet lunch): $80.00
Students: $35.00 (limited number of seats)
You may pay online below.
Due to limited seating, registration and payment are required by November 5, 2012.
The North Jersey ACS Organic Topical Group Congratulates Professor K.C. Nicolaou on his receipt of the 2012 Award for Creativity in Molecular Design and Synthesis!
The members of the North Jersey ACS OTG thank all of the speakers, attendees and corporate sponsors for helping to make this year’s award symposium a success! Left to right: Professor Lawrence Williams (Rutgers), Professor Daniel Seidel (Rutgers), Professor K.C. Nicolaou (Scripps), Dr. Akin Davulcu (BMS), Dr. Amjad Ali (Merck), Dr. Michael Miller (BMS), Dr. Naresh Jain (TCRS-US), Dr. Steven Silverman (BMS)
Invited Speakers
Prof. Erik J. Sorensen
Princeton University
“Taking Risks in Complex Synthesis Design”
Prof. Scott A. Snyder
Columbia University
“Exploring Chemoselectivity through Natural Products Total Synthesis”
Dr. Janet Gunzner-Toste
Genentech, Inc.
“The Discovery and Development of Erivedge”
Prof. Phil S. Baran
Scripps Research Institute, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology
“Studies in Natural Product Synthesis”
Professor K.C. Nicolaou
The Scripps Research Institute and The University of California, San Diego
“Total Synthesis of Natural Products of Biological and Medicinal Importance”
Organizing Committee
- Akin Davulcu (Chair, BMS)
- Daniel Seidel (Past Chair, Rutgers)
- Amjad Ali (Merck)
- Steven Silverman (BMS)
- Joe Kozlowski (Merck)
Latest News
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Message From Cecilia Marzabadi
It is my great honor to serve as your 2020 Chair for the Section. As a 20+ year member of the section, I have seen the changes and the challenges present in the Section. ...
