The May Group - University of Houston Chemistry

About The May Group

The May Group at the University of Houston Department of Chemistry specializes in organic synthesis, with particular focus on natural product synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and methods development in electrophillic deboronation, organometallic ligand design, chiral diol organocatalysis, and carbene cascade reactions. Our research combines classical organic chemistry with modern synthetic strategies to solve complex chemical challenges.

Contact Information

Office: 5011 SERC

Lab: W5016A

Phone:
(832) 842-8808 office
(832) 842-8825 lab

Email: jmay@uh.edu

Twitter: @maylabuh

Research Highlights

Natural Product Synthesis

Developing efficient synthetic routes to complex natural products using modern organic chemistry techniques and innovative strategies.

Methods Development

Creating new synthetic methodologies that enable more efficient, selective, and environmentally friendly organic transformations.

Cascade & Carbene Chemistry

Exploiting cascade reactions and carbene chemistry to construct complex molecular architectures with elegant synthetic efficiency.

Recent Publications

44. Mild Chlorotrimethylsilane Promoted Annulation of Indoles and Enones to Synthesize Substituted Pyrroloindoles

AJOC 2026, 15(3), e70370

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43. Can Twisted Double Bonds Facilitate Stepwise [2+2] Cycloadditions?

Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 3778–3783.

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42. Photoactivation of Hydrazones for the Synthesis of Diarylalkanes and Trialkylmethylboronates.

Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 3397–3400

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Join The May Group

We are always interested in hearing from motivated students and postdoctoral researchers. If you are passionate about organic chemistry and interested in joining our research efforts, please contact Professor May.

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