With funding from the Chemical Synthesis Program of the Division of Chemistry, Dr. Hoye and his research group at University of Minnesota will i) capitalize on underdeveloped or ii) discover entirely new reactions in organic chemistry. Alkynes are a class of compounds containing a carbon-carbon triple bond. They have inherently high potential energy, which means they can undergo chemical reactions that are more energetically (thermodynamically) favorable than for the functional groups present in many other types of organic chemicals. This reactivity is perhaps most familiar in the form of an acetylene (ethyne, the simplest alkyne) torch, which gives off considerably more heat than, say, methane (natural gas) when combusted with oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water. This energetic driving force can be used to design reactions using more complex alkynes to fuel the formation of reactive organic intermediates that undergo further reactions to give structurally interesting new molecules. These scientific advances have the possibility of opening new avenues for synthesis of compounds of value to other researchers engaged in the discovery of new compounds that have beneficial societal impact (e.g., pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, or electronic/photonic device components). The student researchers who will engage in these studies will gain valuable skills from which they will launch their own careers. Dr. Hoye and his research group at University of Minnesota will capitalize o