James Mulhearn
Papers
1
Total Citations
26
H-Index
1
About
James Mulhearn is a leading figure in medicinal chemistry and synthetic methodology, whose work is redefining how drug discovery teams build complex molecules. His research centers on developing practical, high-throughput cross-coupling reactions that unlock new chemical space for pharmaceutical development. Mulhearn’s most impactful contribution is his pioneering work on deoxygenative C(sp²)–C(sp³) cross-coupling, a transformative method that allows chemists to directly couple abundant, inexpensive alcohols with aryl bromides. This breakthrough, detailed in his highly cited 2023 paper (26 citations), overcomes a long-standing limitation in parallel medicinal chemistry by converting alcohols—the most diverse and readily available building blocks—into valuable alkyl precursors. By automating this metallaphotoredox process, Mulhearn has equipped medicinal chemists with a powerful tool to rapidly generate libraries of drug-like compounds, dramatically accelerating the hit-to-lead optimization cycle. His work stands as a landmark achievement in synthetic methodology, bridging the gap between academic reaction development and industrial-scale drug discovery, and establishing him as a key innovator in the field.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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