I am a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire. I teach and conduct research in the area of organic chemistry, with primary interests in the development of synthetic methodology and the application these new synthetic tools to the preparation of molecules on biological.
Recent research activity has focused on the development of a series of reactions initiated by the reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds with zinc carbenoids. Treatment of the resultant reactive intermediate with a variety of electrophiles leads to a diverse array of complex products. The chemistry has been key to the efficient synthesis of numerous natural products, include brefeldin A, papyracillic acids A, B, and C, CJ-12,954 and CJ-13,014, and patulolide A.
The Zercher group is not currently accepting new graduate students (Fall 2023).
