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B OR H Ir N
University of Dallas — Organic Chemistry

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Discovery in
Organic Chemistry

An undergraduate-centered research lab at the University of Dallas exploring strain-driven reactivity, organoboron methodology, and the frontiers of synthetic organic chemistry.

Explore the Lab View Publications
30+
Undergrad Presentations
45+
Undergrad Researchers
$200K
NSF Award
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NSF Award · 2025
National Science Foundation grant to expand Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences at the University of Dallas
$200,000
About the Lab

Training the next generation of scientists through discovery

The Dannatt Research Lab is an inclusive, undergraduate-centered synthetic organic chemistry group at the University of Dallas. We pursue genuine scientific discovery, not predetermined outcomes, using organoboron and aryne chemistry as vehicles for rigorous scientific training.

Our current research explores how the inherent strain of arynes can be harnessed to activate strong bonds, such as the boron-oxygen bond, opening new pathways in synthetic methodology. Students who join the lab engage in the complete scientific process: from background reading and experimental design to data collection, manuscript preparation, and external presentations. This training prepares students for graduate school, medical school, and careers in science and industry.

01
Discovery-Driven Science
We pursue open-ended research questions where the answer is unknown, teaching students to think critically and solve problems without a pre-defined solution.
02
Full Scientific Training
From literature review and experimental design through data collection, analysis, and external presentation, students experience every facet of the scientific process.
03
Career-Ready Preparation
Equipped with strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills that transfer across disciplines, lab alumni have entered graduate programs, medical schools, law firms, and STEM industry roles.
04
Inclusive Research Culture
We welcome students from all backgrounds and majors. No prior research experience is required, only curiosity and commitment.
Research Focus

Probing the boundaries
of synthetic methodology

Our research centers on reaction discovery in organic chemistry, with a focus on strained intermediates, organoboron transformations, and training undergraduates through genuine laboratory research experiences.

Primary Research
01 — Primary

Aryne Sigma Bond Insertions

Arynes are strained aromatic intermediates capable of inserting into polarized sigma bonds. We are exploring their previously unstudied reactivity with boron-heteroatom bonds (B-O, B-Cl, B-N), using bench-stable iodonium salt precursors that make this chemistry accessible to undergraduate researchers.

Strained Intermediates Reaction Discovery Iodonium Salts PRF Funded
B OH pin cat σ
02 — Primary

Organoboron Physical Organic Chemistry

Despite the ubiquity of organoboron compounds in synthesis and drug design, the Hammett sigma values for common boryl substituents have never been measured. We are determining these fundamental parameters for B(OH)₂, Bpin, Bcat, BF₃K, and others through potentiometric and UV-vis titration, complemented by DFT calculations with Dr. Prajay Patel.

Hammett Analysis Physical Organic Boronic Acids Boronic Esters
03 — Primary

CURE: Green Chemistry as Undergraduate Research

Our NSF-supported Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) embeds genuine discovery science into the Organic II lab. Students have developed a DCM-free reductive amination, replacing a probable carcinogen with 2-MeTHF. Every student generates original data, designs experiments, and contributes to a growing substrate scope dataset with publication potential.

NSF Funded CURE Green Solvent Green Chemistry
Collaborative Research
04 — Collaboration

Jet Fuel Bioremediation

With Dr. William Cody (Biology, UD), we develop the extraction and GCMS methods needed to quantify hydrocarbon degradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants. This analytical infrastructure is essential to mapping the genes that regulate jet fuel breakdown, with applications to environmental remediation at contaminated airfields.

GCMS Analysis Bioremediation Interdisciplinary
05 — Collaboration

Computational Chemistry & Machine Learning

In collaboration with Dr. Prajay Patel, we combine DFT calculations and machine learning to predict molecular properties. Current work trains models on Hirshfeld atomic charges and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts to predict Hammett substituent constants, with the MLP model achieving R² = 0.90 on para-substituted datasets.

DFT Machine Learning Property Prediction
m/z
06 — Collaboration

Vaping Product Analysis

With Dr. Inimary Toby (Biology, UD), we use GCMS to characterize commercial e-cigarette liquids: comparing labeled vs. actual nicotine concentrations, identifying undisclosed flavor compounds, and measuring how these chemical profiles change after heat exposure at temperatures reachable inside a parked car in summer.

GCMS Analysis Public Health Consumer Safety
View Full Research Program
Selected Publications

Recent Scholarship

2024
A Hydrazone Ligand for Iridium-Catalyzed C–H Borylation: Enhanced Reactivity and Selectivity for Fluorinated Arenes
Peruzzi, C. D.; Miller, S. L.; Dannatt, J. E.; Ghaffari, B.; Maleczka, R. E., Jr.; Smith, M. R., III
Organometallics, 2024, 43, 1208
2024
Integrating multiscale and machine learning approaches towards the SAMPL9 log P challenge
Draper, M. R.; Waterman, A., IV; Dannatt, J. E.; Patel, P.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, 26, 7907
2022
Amide directed iridium C(sp³)–H borylation catalysis with high N-methyl selectivity
Dannatt, J. E.; Yadav, A.; Smith, M. R., III; Maleczka, R. E., Jr.
Tetrahedron, 2022, 109, 132578
2020
Maintaining an Active Organic Class During the COVID-Induced Online Transition at Two Undergraduate Institutions
Baker, A. J.; Dannatt, J. E.
J. Chem. Educ., 2020, 97, 3235
View all publications
The Team

Principal Investigator & Lab Members

Dr. Jonathan E. Dannatt
Dr. Jonathan E. Dannatt
Dr. Jonathan E. Dannatt
Principal Investigator — Associate Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Dannatt completed his undergraduate education in chemistry and mathematics at Lyon College, where transformative research experiences — including an NSF REU at Georgetown University — set the course for his scientific career. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2019 under Professor Robert Maleczka, studying iridium-catalyzed C–H activation borylation catalysts and silsesquioxane synthesis.

He joined the University of Dallas faculty in August 2019, where he teaches the organic chemistry sequence. Inspired by the impact his own undergraduate research had on his trajectory, Dr. Dannatt is committed to providing equally transformative opportunities to UD students — and to building a lab culture that is rigorous, inclusive, and discovery-focused.

B.S.
Chemistry & Mathematics, Lyon College (2014) — summa cum laude
Ph.D.
Organic Chemistry, Michigan State University (2019)
Advisor: Robert Maleczka Jr. — C–H Borylation & Silsesquioxane Synthesis
2019–25
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Dallas
2026–
Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Dallas
jdannatt@udallas.edu
(972) 721-5296
235 Haggerty Science Center, University of Dallas
LinkedIn Profile
Learn more about Dr. Dannatt
Current Lab Members
Joey Nelson
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Sofiya Berzhanskaya
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Isabella Brown
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Mark Mora
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Blaise Williams
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Jose Serrano
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Senior
Theo Nguyen
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Junior
Grace Hoang
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Junior
Lauren Raab
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Junior
Clare DiGiacomo
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology
Sophomore
View all former lab members
Chemistry Graduate School Alumni
Kathleen George
Aryne insertions into trimethyl borate; DDSQ transition states · Spring 2025
Chemistry Ph.D. — University of Notre Dame
Clare Rider
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology · Spring 2025
Chemistry Ph.D. — Rice University
Mary O'Reilly
Organic synthesis and reaction methodology · Spring 2022 – Fall 2022
Chemistry Ph.D. — University of Wisconsin–Madison
Asa Waterman
Organoboron synthesis; boron-substituted benzoic acid chemistry · Spring 2021
Graduate Researcher — UT Southwestern
View all former lab members
Student Scholarship

Presentations & Achievements

Dannatt Lab students and faculty regularly present at national, regional, and local venues, earning top honors at ACS meetings, the American Society of Microbiology, and the Texas State Capitol.

Selected Presentations
ACS National Meeting · Atlanta 2026
Optimization of Reductive Amination: Under Green Chemistry Principles
Raab, L.; Hoang, G.; Dannatt, J. E.
ACS Southwest Regional Meeting · Waco 2024
Characterization of Genes Essential for Hydrocarbon Degradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Nguyen, T.; Dannatt, J. E.; Cody, W.
🏆 1st Place, Undergraduate Oral Presentations
SERMACS/SWRM Joint Regional Meeting · Orlando 2025
Mild and modular synthesis of tertiary amines using iodonium salt–mediated functionalization
Dannatt, J.; Serrano, J.; Hoang, G.; Raab, L.; Nelson, J.
ACS Southwest Regional Meeting · Waco 2024
Synthesis of Iodonium Salts and Investigation of Aryne Reactivity with Boron-Oxygen Functionalities
Nelson, J.; Dannatt, J. E.
Texas Undergraduate Research Day · Texas State Capitol 2025
An Undergraduate's Multi-Faceted Research Journey: Arynes, Boryl Groups, and Silsesquioxanes
George, K. E.; Bielinski, M. K.; Wertz, H. W.; Patel, P.; Dannatt, J. E.
ACS Meeting-In-Miniature · Dallas 2024
Initial Optimization of Aryne Insertion into Boron Trichloride and Triisopropyl Borate
De Vuono, L.; Pecha, M.; Dannatt, J. E.
🏆 1st Place, Undergraduate Presentations
View all presentations
Join the Lab

Ready to conduct science as an undergraduate?

The Dannatt Lab actively welcomes undergraduate researchers at all levels. No prior laboratory research experience is required. We train from the ground up. What we look for is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

Students who join the lab gain hands-on experience with modern organic techniques including NMR spectroscopy, column chromatography, air-free synthesis, and reaction monitoring. You'll contribute to ongoing projects, attend group meetings, and have the opportunity to present your work at regional and national conferences.

"Whether your goals are graduate school, medical school, law, or industry, research training will set you apart."

01
Reach out to Dr. Dannatt
Send a brief email introducing yourself, your year, and your interest in the lab. No formal cover letter required.
02
Schedule a meeting
We'll meet to discuss your schedule, goals, and current lab projects to find the right fit.
03
Join a project
You'll be integrated into an active research project with mentorship from Dr. Dannatt and senior lab members.
04
Do science. Present. Publish.
Work toward conference presentations, co-authorship on manuscripts, and a research credential that will define your career.
Contact
Dr. Jonathan E. Dannatt
Associate Professor of Chemistry · University of Dallas
jdannatt@udallas.edu
Department of Chemistry
University of Dallas
1845 E Northgate Dr, Irving, TX 75062