Gary A. Molander is a distinguished leader in the field of organic chemistry whose career has been defined by groundbreaking contributions to synthetic methodology and exceptional service to the scientific community. He currently serves as the Hirschmann-Makineni Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 2007 following his appointment as the Allan Day Term Professor. Molander received his B.S. with distinction from Iowa State University in 1975 and completed his Ph.D. at Purdue University in 1979 under the mentorship of Nobel laureate Herbert C. Brown, continuing with postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison with Barry M. Trost. He began his independent academic career at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1981, where he rose from assistant professor to full professor before joining the University of Pennsylvania faculty in 1999, establishing himself as a central figure in modern synthetic chemistry.
Professor Molander's research has fundamentally transformed the field of organic synthesis through his pioneering development of single-electron transfer processes and innovative applications of organotrifluoroborate reagents. His laboratory is renowned for advancing the use of robust, air- and water-stable potassium organotrifluoroborates as versatile partners in cross-coupling reactions, creating powerful new methodologies that have been widely adopted by both academic and industrial researchers. This work has enabled previously challenging bond formations and streamlined synthetic routes to complex molecules, significantly impacting pharmaceutical and materials science research. Molander's contributions were recognized with the prestigious Herbert C. Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods in 2015, honoring his exceptional innovations in synthetic chemistry that have expanded the synthetic chemist's toolkit.
Beyond his research achievements, Molander has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the organic chemistry community through extensive service to the American Chemical Society's Division of Organic Chemistry. He has served on the Division's Executive Committee for over fifteen years, holding positions including Secretary-Treasurer, Chair, and Executive Officer of the 37th National Organic Symposium. Notably, he co-founded the Division's Graduate Research Symposium, an innovative program now in its sixth year that was recognized with a ChemLuminary Award by the ACS for its impact on engaging early-career scientists. Molander continues to shape the future of organic chemistry through his editorial roles, mentorship of numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and ongoing research focused on expanding the frontiers of radical chemistry and photoredox catalysis, ensuring his influence extends far beyond his own laboratory.
