David Rubush, PhD
Program Director
Associate Professor, Chemistry
Faculty Email: drubush@ben.edu
Phone: 630-829-6533
Office Location: Birck 327
BenU Faculty since 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow: Vanderbilt University, Jeffrey Johnston (2012-2014)
Ph.D. Chemistry, Colorado State University, Tomislav Rovis (2012)
B.S. Chemistry, Calvin College, Ronald Blakespoor (2006)
Courses Taught:
Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Research Areas:
Asymmetric organocatalysis, reaction development, synthesis of biologically important molecules including potential malaria and cancer therapeutics, green chemistry, chemical education
Current and Former Research Students:
Fall 2014
Cameron Pombert (Biochemistry)
Mike Strongy (Chemistry)
Mohammed Farhan (Business with Science Applications)
Recent Publications:
Benedictine University
Rubush, D. M. * 2014.听. e-EROS Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. 1鈥6.
Colorado State University
鈥淪tereoselective Synthesis of Dioxolanes and Oxazolidines via a Desymmetrization Acetalization/Michael Cascade.鈥澨David M. Rubush听and Tomislav Rovis* Synlett听2014, 25, 713-717.
鈥淎n Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,2,4-Trioxane Anticancer Agents via Desymmetrization of Peroxyquinols through a Br酶nsted Acid Catalysis Cascade.鈥澨Journal of the American Chemical Society听David M. Rubush, Michelle A. Morges, Barbara J. Rose, Douglas H. Thamm, and Tomislav Rovis* 2012,听134, 13554-13557.
Calvin College
鈥淧hotochemical Synthesis of 3-Alkynals from 1-Alkynoxy-9,10-anthraquinones.鈥 Ronald L. Blankespoor*, Peter J. Boldenow, Eric C. Hansen, Jeffrey M. Kallemeyn, Andrew G. Lohse,听David M. Rubush听and Derek Vrieze听Journal of Organic Chemistry听2009, 74, 3933-3935.
Professional Activities:
Member, American Chemical Society, Organic Division
Peer-Reviewed and Invited Presentations:
鈥淓nantioselective Chiral Acid-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of p-Quinols and p-Peroxyquinols to form Heterocycles鈥听Rubush, D. M.; Rovis, T. 242th听American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO; August 2011. (Talk)
鈥淧rogress Toward the Total Synthesis of Stemocurtisine Utilizing an Asymmetric Stetter Reaction鈥听Rubush, D. M.; Rovis, T.听240th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, MA; August 2010. (Talk)
鈥淭oward the Total Synthesis of Stemocurtisine Utilizing an Asymmetric Intramolecular Stetter Reaction鈥听Rubush, D. M.; Rovis, T.听National Organic Chemistry Symposium, Boulder, CO; June 2009. (Poster)
鈥淧rogress Toward the Total Synthesis of Stemocurtisine鈥听Rubush, D. M.; Rovis, T.听Albert I. Meyers Symposium, Fort Collins, CO; October 2008. (Poster)
鈥淪ynthesis of Beta-Alkynals via the Photolysis of Substituted Anthraquinones鈥听Blankespoor, R. L.; Boldenow, P. J.; Lohse, A. G.;听Rubush, D. M.听235th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA; April 2008. (Poster)
Current Research Projects:
My research program focuses on developing new and environmentally friendly chiral organocatalysts and ligands to create sustainable routes to cancer and malaria therapeutics.