• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1995-1997
• PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995
• BS, University of Utah, 1989

• Exceptional Scholar – Sustained Achievement Award, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, 2020
• Graduate Student Mentor Award, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, 2019
• Promising Inventor Award, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, 2005
• NSF CAREER Award, 2000

Organic chemistry
Catalysis
Alkene metathesis and ene-yne metathesis
Medicinal chemistry
Macrocyclic and supramolecular catalysts
Photocatalysis

There are a number of unique projects in my group that center on metal-catalyzed organic reactions. For many years, my group developed new reactions based on ene-yne metathesis and endeavored to understand the complexities of the catalytic reaction through detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies. Our mechanistic studies in ene-yne metathesis have contributed to our current understanding of the reaction and allowed us to develop new applications such as those that create new rings, important for the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceuticals. In the metathesis chemistry, we needed a way to arrest metathesis reactions and to aid in the purification of the products. For that, we developed a quench method based on polar or solid-supported isocyanides, which trigger a Buchner reaction in the Grubbs catalysts. This method formed the basis for a recent patent to remove metals from reactions. This is important for the recovery and recycling of the metal catalyst and aids in the purification of products destined for chemical biology or medicinal chemistry studies. In recent years, my group has moved to new reactions for the synthetic elaboration of 1,3-dienes in an effort to increase their use in organic synthesis. Last, our longstanding interest in alkene and ene-yne metathesis led to a new program geared towards a unique class of macrocyclic catalysts which we designed for the purpose of carrying our selective, enzyme-like reactions in metal-catalyzed transformation. To enable catalysts to selectively react with one of many functional groups in a molecule is one of the premier problems in catalysis. Students in my group focus on their own independent projects and yet also have opportunities to collaborate with specialists in cancer research and chemical biology.

• “Regioselective Cu-catalyzed hydroboration of 1,3-disubstituted-1,3-dienes: functionalization of conjugated dienes readily accessible through ene-yne metathesis” Xu, R.; Rohde, Jr, L. N.; Diver, S. T. ACS Catalysis 2022, 12, 6434-6443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.2c01190.
• “Ruthenium Removal Using Silica-Supported Aromatic Isocyanides.” Gregg, Z. R.; Glickert, E.; Xu, R.; Diver, S. T. J. Organomet. Chem. 2021, 121800. DOI: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2021.121800
• “Ene–Yne Metathesis of Allylphosphonates and Allylphosphates: Synthesis of Phosphorus-Containing 1,3-Dienes.” Rohde, L. N.; Wild, T. H.; Diver, S. T. J. Org. Chem. 2021, 86, 1371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.0c02886
• “Mild Isomerization of Conjugated Dienes Using Co-Mediated Hydrogen Atom Transfer” Delgado, K. R.; Youmans, D. D.; Diver, S. T., Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 750-754. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.9b04594
• ”Macrocyclic Ruthenium Carbenes for Size-Selective Alkene Metathesis” Zhang, Y.; Diver, S. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 3371-3374. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c00081
• “Macrocyclic N-Heterocyclic Carbene: Synthesis and Catalytic Applications” Davalos, A.; Sylvester, E.; Diver, S. T. Organometallics 2019, 38, 2338-2346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.9b00152
  
• “Kinetics and Mechanism of Isocyanide-Promoted Carbene Insertion into the Aryl Substituent of an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand in Ruthenium-Based Metathesis Catalysts” Griffiths, J. R.; Hofman, E. J.; Keister, J. B.; Diver, S. T., Organometallics, 2017, 36(16), 3043-3052 (DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00342).
• “Highly Selective Ring Expansion of Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexenes” Gratia, S.; Mosesohn, K.; Diver, S. T., Org. Lett., 2016, 18(20), 5320-5323. (DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6b02641).
• “From Resting State to the Steady State: Mechanistic Studies of Ene-Yne Metathesis Promoted by the Hoveyda Complex” Griffiths, J. R.; Keister, J. B.; Diver, S. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138(16), 5380-5391 (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b01887).
• “Two Ene-Yne Metathesis Approaches to the Total Synthesis of Amphidinolide P” Jecs, E.; Diver, S. T., Org. Lett., 2015, 17(14), 3510–3513 (DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b01601).
• “Gold(I)-Promoted Heterocyclization of Internal Alkynes: A Comparative Study of Direct Metallate 5-endo-dig Cyclization versus a Stepwise Cyclization” French, J. M.; Diver, S. T., J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79(12),5569-5585 (DOI: 10.1021/jo500748e).
• “Removal of Ruthenium Using a Silica Gel Supported Reagent” French, J. M.; Caras, C. A.; Diver, S. T., Org. Lett. 2013, 15(21), 5416-5419 (DOI: 10.1021/ol402339e).
• “Inhibitory Effect of Ethylene in Ene-Yne Metathesis: The Case for Ruthenacyclobutane Resting States” Gregg, T. M.; Keister, J. B.; Diver, S. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135(45), 16777-16780 (DOI:10.1021/ja4085012).
• “Ruthenium Hydride-Promoted Dienyl Isomerization: Access to Highly Substituted 1,3-Dienes” Clark, J. R.; Griffiths, J. R.; Diver, S. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135(9), 3327-3330 (DOI: 10.1021/ja4011207).
• “Geminal Alkene-Alkyne Cross Metathesis Using a Relay Strategy” Clark, J. R.; French, J. M.; Jecs, E.; Diver, S. T., Org. Lett. 2012, 14(16), 4178-4181 (DOI: 10.1021/ol301846q).
• “Ligand-Promoted Carbene Insertion into the Aryl Substituent of an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand in Ruthenium-Based Metathesis Catalysts” Galan, B. R.; Pitak, M.; Gembicky, M.; Keister, J. B.; Diver, S. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131(19), 6822-6832 (DOI: 10.1021/ja809984k).