Kevin Shaughnessy
Kevin Shaughnessy
Department Head, Professor
Kevin Shaughnessy joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as Department Head in January 2026. He was raised in Trumbull, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He earned his PhD from Stanford University under the direction of Professor Robert Waymouth and performed post-doctoral research with Professor John F. Hartwig at Yale University. He joined the faculty of the University of Alabama in 1999 where he served in a variety of roles, including as director of undergraduate studies and department chair. In 2020 he was named a Fulbright Scholar at the Polish Academy of Science in Łodź. In 2024, he became the Editor-in-Chief of the publication Organic Reactions.
Education
- Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University, 1997-1999
- PhD, Stanford University, 1998
- BS, University of Nebraska, 1992
Research
The Shaughnessy group applies transition metal catalysts in bond-forming reactions relevant to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, organic materials, and agricultural chemicals. We are interested in understanding fundamental mechanisms of transition metal-catalyzed reactions and applying this knowledge to the design of new catalytic systems. Of particular interest is the role of ligand steric and electronic properties on catalyst performance. Application of metal-catalyzed reactions to the synthesis of functionalized boron cluster compounds is another major area of interest for the group. Our program has been supported by NSF, ACS-PRF, and industrial partners. Research in the Shaughnessy group integrates organic and organometallic synthesis and physical organic chemistry to address problems in catalysis. These experiences prepare future scientists with a wide-ranging set of skills that are widely applicable.
Awards
Fulbright Scholar, Polish Academy of Science, Łodź (2020)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (2001)
Selected Publications
Jakubowski, R.; Ogunmola, K.; Shaughnessy, K. H.:* Kaszyński, P.* “Boosting electron-donating power of the [closo-B10H10]2- anion: alkyl derivatives for material science,” Chem. Sci, 2026, 17, 1282-1287. DOI: 10.1039/D5SC08516K
Headford, B. R.; Kuhnel, W. B.; Qu, F., Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Synthesis of Unsymmetric Bis(Phosphine) Monoxides (BPMO) and NHC-Phosphine Oxides through Michaelis-Arbuzov Reactions of Phosphinite Esters,” Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2025, e202500131. DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202500131
Pierce, J. K.; McEachern, E. A.; Qu, F.; Whitt, L. M.; Belmore, K.; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Chelating and Pincer Oxime Complexes of Palladium—Rearrangement of a 1,3-Diacylbenzene Dioxime upon Palladium Coordination,” Organometallics, 2024, 43, 737-745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.3c00526
Headford, B. R.; Kuhnel, W. B.; Qu, F.; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Modular synthesis of unsymmetric 1,3-diphosphinopropanes through sequential substitution reactions,” J. Organomet. Chem., 2023, 999, 122816. DOI: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2023.122816
Pierce, J. K.; Hiatt, L. D.; Howard, J. R.; Hu, H.; Qu, F.; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Amines as activating ligands for phosphine palladium(II) precatalysts: effect of amine ligand identity on catalyst efficiency,” Organometallics, 2022, 41, 3861-3871. DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.2c00518
Guschlbauer, J.; Shaughnessy, K. H.; Pietrzak, A.; Chung, M.-C.; Sponsler, M. B.; Kaszyński, P.* “Decaborate [closo-B10H10]2– as an efficient conduit of electronic effects: Comparative studies of Fe…Fe communication in [{(η5-Cp)(dppe)Fe}2{μ2-(NC-X-CN)}]n+ (n =0,2),” Organometallics, 2021, 40, 2504-2515. DOI:
10.1021/acs.organomet.1c00269.
Hu, H.; Burlas, C. E.; Curley, S. J.; Gruchala, T.; Qu, F.; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Effect of Aryl Ligand Identity on Catalytic Performance of Trineopentylphosphine Arylpalladium Complexes in N-Arylation Reactions,” Organometallics, 2020, 39, 3618-3627. DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00140.
Barnett, K. L.; Vasiliu, M.; Stein, T. H.; Delahay, M. V.; Qu, F.; Gerlach, Deidra L.; Dixon, D. A.*; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Experimental and Computational Study of the Structure, Steric Properties, and Binding Equilibria of Neopentylphosphine Palladium Complexes,” Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 5579-5592. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00266
Hu, H.; Qu, F.; Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Enolizable Ketones as Activators of Palladium(II) Precatalysts in Amine Arylation Reactions,” ACS Catal., 2020, 10, 4127-4135. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c00221.
Highlighted in “Items of Interest to R&D Process Chemists and Engineers” in Org. Proc. Res. Dev. DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.0c00197
Shaughnessy, K. H.* “Development of Palladium Precatalysts that Efficiently Generate LPd(0) Active Species,” Isr. J. Chem. 2020, 60 180-194. DOI: 10.1002/ijch.201900067