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.

Patil, S.; White, K.; Bugarin, A.* “Direct Synthesis of Triazene Dyes from NHC with Azides” Tetrahedron. 2013, Submitted.

Sandoval, D.; Frazier, C, P.; Bugarin, A.; Read de Alaniz, J. “Electrophilic α-Amination Reaction of -Ketoesters Using N-Hydroxycarbamates: Merging Aerobic Oxidation and Lewis Acid Catalysis” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 18948-18951.

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” Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 3620-3623.

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 on 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. “Efficient, 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, 44, 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.

2008 - 2011       SACNAS conference and membership waiver, presented by SACNAS.

2010 & 2011      Outstanding tutor award, Presented by TAMU-SACNAS chapter.

April 2011          U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship.

Feb. 2011          Thomas J. Hairston Memorial Graduate Scholarship.

Summer 2010    Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Life Technologies, Austin, TX

May 2010          Marie and Jim Galloway Graduate Scholarship.

May 2010          Best total synthesis proposal award, presented by Texas A&M.

Oct. 2009         The DuPont Award for general and organic chemistry to graduate oral symposia.

May 2007         Best total synthesis proposal award, presented by Texas A&M.

Nov. 2006        Outstanding Graduate Student in Chemistry, presented by UTEP.

April 2005        Outstanding Master of Chemistry in Research, presented by UTEP.

Dec - 2002      National Institute of Nuclear Research, ININ, Estado de Mexico, MX

2001-2003      Regional Center of Nuclear Studies, UAZ, Zacatecas, MX

May 2000       Placed first for the State Delegation in the National Chemistry Olympics.

May 1997       Placed first in the 11th National Mathematics Olympics, MX.

May 1997       Placed first at the Physics state championship, presented by CBTa (Mexico).