NTC: Distinguished Lecture Series presents Sir David MacMillan, Ph.D.

Register to attend online here!

Navy TechConnect: Distinguished Lecture Series presents Sir David MacMillan, Ph.D.

“The Development of Photocatalytic Reactions of Value to Chemists and Biologists”

by Sir David W. C. MacMillan

August 25th, 2025

TechGrid: 221 W. Inyokern Rd. Ridgecrest, CA 93555

11:30am-12:30pm

This lecture will discuss the application of visible light photocatalysis to the discoveryor invention of transformations that will be conceptually or synthetically valuable (and sometimes, hopefully, both). He will describe why a healthy balance of reaction discovery and mechanistic understanding has been important to the development of a field of research that is now being widely adopted in medicinal chemistry settings. In particular, he will discuss the application of photocatalysis to the development of new metallaphotoredox coupling reactions involving SH2 mechanisms, a development that he hopes will have an impact on the discovery of newbiologically relevant molecules. Finally, he will examine an exciting recent application ofphotoredox catalysis in his group; namely, the high-resolution µ-map technology, which provides a powerful means to probe biological pathways at the subcellular level.

Sir David W. C. MacMillan was born in Bellshill, Scotland, and received his undergraduatedegree in chemistry at the University of Glasgow, where he worked with Dr. Ernie Colvin. In 1990, he began his doctoral studies under the direction of Professor Larry Overman at the University of California, Irvine, before undertaking a postdoctoral position with Professor Dave Evans at Harvard University in 1996. He began his independent career at the University of California, Berkeley, in July of 1998 before moving to Caltech in 2000 as the Earle C. Anthony Chair of Organic Chemistry. In 2006, Dave moved to Princeton University as the A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Chemistry. He served as Department Chair from 2010–2015 and is currently the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and a Ludwig Distinguished Scholar. Dave shares the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Benjamin List “for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis.” He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2022. His research interests encompass a wide range of organic chemistry, including the development of new areas in organocatalysis and photoredox catalysis.

To learn more about Navy TechConnect, visit www.NavyTechConnect.com 

The Navy TechConnect virtual showcase provides companies with an efficient virtual platform to present their capabilities, expertise, and technologies to a highly targeted audience of Navy leaders, acquisition professionals, and key stakeholders—engaging a workforce of 10,000 members and leadership across multiple commands while fostering valuable partnerships and collaboration opportunities. 

The Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) is a monthly program under Navy TechConnect designed to bring thought leaders, innovators, and subject-matter experts together with our technical community to foster dialogue around cutting-edge science, engineering, and defense technologies.