Alexander Lu holds a Ph.D in organic chemistry, and he concentrates his practice on intellectual property law matters, including patent preparation and prosecution in the chemical practice area.
Prior to joining MBHB, Dr. Lu pursued doctoral studies at University of California, Irvine, where he developed new organic reactions catalyzed by rhodium complexes. These new reactions generally cross-couple organic building blocks in new ways and combinations, allowing chemists to make new molecules that were previously inaccessible. He leveraged laboratory techniques such as in situ nuclear magnetic resonance studies, reaction kinetics studies, and isotope labeling to elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms that govern the unique reactivities and selectivities displayed by these new reactions. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, Dr. Lu worked as a postdoctoral researcher at University of Pennsylvania developing novel organic reactions that occur with the aid of blue light irradiation.
Lu, A., Dong, V.M. Comparing Apples to Alkanes: Teaching Newman Projections and Conformation by Analogy. J. Chem. Educ. 2022, 99, 1106–1109.
Wang, M., Lu, A., Dong, V.M. Hydroformylation: Alternatives to Rh and Syn-Gas. In d and f-Block Metal Complexes in Organic Synthesis – part 2; Parkin, G.; Meyer, K.; O’Hare, D. (eds.) Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry IV, 13; Elsevier: Kidlington, UK, 2022; pp 194–220.
Nie, S., Lu, A., Kuker, E.L., Dong, V.M. Enantioselective Hydrothiolation: Diverging Cyclopropenes through Ligand Control. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 6176–6184.
Wu, X., Cruz, F.A., Lu, A., Dong, V.M. Tandem Catalysis: Transforming Alcohols to Alkenes by Oxidative Dehydroxymethylation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 10126–10130.
Yang, X.-H., Lu, A., Dong, V.M. Intermolecular Hydroamination of 1,3- Dienes to Generate Homoallylic Amines. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 14049–14052.
Eno, M.S., Lu, A., Morken, J.P. Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Kumada Cross-Coupling of Symmetric Cyclic Sulfates. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 7824–7827.