Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Research in the Bugarin group focuses on catalytic reaction development with applications in natural product synthesis. Areas of fundamental interest include: the identification of new reactivity patterns, the evolution of related catalytic processes, and the development of new synthetic strategies. Specifically, we are pursuing new chemistry using azides, nucleophilic and electrophilic catalysis via N-heterocyclic carbenes, synergistic catalysis, redox economy, and metal-catalyzed tandem processes.

Frazier, C, P.; Bugarin, A.; Engelking, J. R.; Read de Alaniz, J. “Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic
Oxidation of N-Substituted Hydroxylamines: Efficient and Practical Access to Nitroso
Compounds” submitted to Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012

Bugarin, A.; Connell, B. T. “A Highly Active and Selective Palladium(II) PheBox Catalyst for the
Formation of α-Aryl Ketones via Cross-Coupling” Chem. Comm. 2011, 47, 7218-7220. (Highlighted as
a cutting-edge contribution)

Bugarin, A.; Connell, B. T. “MgI2-Accelerated Enantioselective Morita Baylis–Hillman Reactions of
Cyclopentenone Utilizing a Chiral DMAP Nucleophile” Chem. Comm. 2010, 46, 2644-2646.
(Highlighted on Synfacts, 2010, 7, 788 and the Organic Chemistry Portal)

Buddhadeb, G.; Bugarin, A.; Connell B.T.; North, S. W. “OH radical Initiated Oxidation of 1,3-
Butadiene: Isomeric Selective Study of the Dominant Addition Channel” J. Phys. Chem. A. 2010, 114,
5299-5305.

Bugarin, A.; Jones K. D.; Connell, B. T. “Efficiente, direct α-methylenation of carbonyls mediated by
diisopropylammonium trifluoroacetate” Chem. Comm. 2010, 46, 1715-1717.

Buddhadeb, G.; Bugarin, A.; Connell B.T.; North, S. W. “OH Initiated Oxidation of Isoprene: Isomeric
Selective Study for the Dominant Addition Channel” J. Phys. Chem. A. 2010, 114, 2553-2560.

Bugarin, A.; Connell, B. T. “Acceleration of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction by a Simple Mixed
Catalyst System” J. Org. Chem. 2009 74, 4638-4641. Highlighted on the Organic Chemistry Portal.

Bugarin, A.; Connell, B. T. “Chiral Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) NCN-Pincer Complexes Based on
Substituted Benzene: Synthesis, Structure, and Lewis Acidity” Organometallics 2008, 27, 4357-4369.

Yong, J. K.; Bugarin, A.; Connell, B. T. Hot Article: “Conversion of Nitrosobenzenes to isoxazolidines:
An Efficient Cascade Process Utilizing Reactive Nitrone Intermediates” Chem. Comm. 2008, 3522-3524.

B.S., Chemistry 

Pharmacy and Biology,

Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Mexico (2003).

M.S., Chemistry

University of Texas at El Paso (2005).

Ph.D. Chemistry 

Texas A&M University (2011)

Postdoctoral Associate 

University of California, Santa Barbara, (2012)

Dr. Bugarin received his BS in chemistry, pharmacy, and biology from Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas in 2003, his MS from UTEP in 2005, and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 2011. His doctoral training under the direction of Dr. Brian T. Connell focused on asymmetric catalysis, including ligand, catalyst, and reaction design. He then spent one year as a postdoctoral associate with Professor Javier Read de Alaniz at UC Santa Barbara working on the mild aerobic oxidation of hydroxylamines and hydrazines. Dr. Bugarin joined the faculty at UT Arlington in Fall 2012. His research interests are in the development of new organic and organometallic reactions, or more specifically, the efficient construction of carbon–nitrogen bonds, redox economy, synergistic catalysis, and their application in total synthesis, materials, and bioactive molecules.

U.S Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship