J. Michael Chong

• Synthetic organic chemistry
• Development of new methods for stereoselective synthesis
• Carbon–carbon bond forming reactions
• New chiral ligands
• Organometallic reagents
• Insect pheromones

Much of what Michael Chong's research team does is related to the preparation of compounds with defined stereochemistry. This can involve asymmetric synthesis, the use of enantiomerically-pure starting materials or resolutions. Stereochemistry is particularly important when dealing with biologically active materials such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals where apparently small changes can have major effects.

Organometallic reagents play a major role in their research. Organometallic reagents are particularly useful in organic synthesis since they can be used to make new carbon-carbon bonds, often with stereochemical consequences. They have used organic derivatives of aluminum, boron, copper, lithium, magnesium, tin, and zinc to effect asymmetric transformations. While a wide range of metals is used, the underlying theme is the same: to make new carbon-carbon bonds with control of stereochemistry.

Michael Chong teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in organic chemistry.

Recent publications include

• Challenges of Pheromone-based Mating Disruption of Cydia strobilella and Dioryctria abietella in Spruce Seed Orchards. G. P. Svensson, H.-L. Wang, E. V. Jirle, O. Rosenberg, I. Liblikas, J. M. Chong, C. Löfstedt, O. Anderbrant. J. Pest Science, 91, 639–650 (2018).

• Chemical Modification of Polyisobutylene Succinimide Dispersants and Characterization of Their Associative Properties. S. Pirouz, Y. Wang, J. M. Chong, and J. Duhamel, J. Phys. Chem B, 119, 12202-12211 (2015).
• Synthesis of E-Vinyl Iodides via Hydrostannation of Terminal Alkynes. A. Darwish and J. M. Chong, Tetrahedron, 68, 654-658 (2012).
• Binaphthol-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Arylboration of Enones.H. M. Turner, J. Patel, N. Niljianskul and J. M. Chong, Org. Lett, 13, 5796-5799 (2011).
• Selective Adsorption and Thermal Evolution of Bifunctional Carboxylic Acids: Competition of O-H Dissociation and other Reaction Products in Acrylic Acid and Propanoic Acid on Si(100)2×1., M. Ebrahimi; M. Chong, K. T. Leung, J. Phys. Chem. C, 114, 2947-2957 (2010).

"Production of Fluorene Compounds", U.K. Patent Application filed June 1988 with G. Lajoie and the University of Waterloo CDO.

• Executive Committee member, 2013-present  
• Chem 13 News Editorial Board Member, 2005-16 
• Science Open House Chemistry Magic Show Coordinator, 1996-2015
• Science Faculty Council – chemistry representative, 2009-11 
• Associate Graduate Officer/Chemistry 794 coordinator, 2005-11
• Canadian Society for Chemistry Accreditation Board member, 2007-10
• Director, Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC)², 2006-09
• Ontario Council on Graduate Studies external consultant, 2009

• Executive Committee member, 2013-present  
• Chem 13 News Editorial Board Member, 2005-16 
• Science Open House Chemistry Magic Show Coordinator, 1996-2015
• Science Faculty Council – chemistry representative, 2009-11 
• Associate Graduate Officer/Chemistry 794 coordinator, 2005-11
• Canadian Society for Chemistry Accreditation Board member, 2007-10
• Director, (GWC)², 2006-09
• Ontario Council on Graduate Studies external consultant, 2009

1983 PhD Synthetic Organic Chemistry, University of British Columbia

1979 BSc Honours Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of British Columbia