Organic

Organic research includes the invention of new reactions as well as investigations at the interface of organic chemistry with biology, medicine, materials science, and nanotechnology. Specific areas of interest include the development of new catalytic processes and methods for continuous flow synthesis, the design and synthesis of macromolecules, and the total synthesis of bioactive natural products.

Two graduate students talk about their research in a lab.

Related News

Professor Steve Buchwald smiles in front of a blue background.

Stephen L. Buchwald wins 2026 Willard Gibbs Award

This prestigious honor has been awarded annually for over 100 years by the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society.

MIT ranks No. 1 in 12 subject areas in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the organization announced.

QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026

The Institute also ranks second in seven subject areas.

An image depicting a relocated alcohol group on an organic molecule.

Researchers Develop Molecular Editing Tool to Relocate Alcohol Groups

This new technique will allow chemists to efficiently fine-tune the chemical structure of an organic molecule.

Professor Tim Swager smiles in front of a map.

Timothy M. Swager to receive the 2026 Theodore Richards Medal

This prestigious honor is awarded biennially by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society.

Rows and rows of pink and turquoise circles with sketches of variations of p53.

Cancer’s Secret Safety Net

Researchers uncover a hidden mechanism that allows cancer to develop aggressive mutations.

“What’s remarkable is that intelectin-2 (mltln2) operates in two complementary ways. It helps stabilize the mucus layer, and if that barrier is compromised, it can directly neutralize or restrain bacteria that begin to escape,” says Laura Kiessling. On left, mltln2 stabilizes the mucus layer on healthy tissue. On right, it neutralizes bacteria in an inflamed GI tract.

A protein found in the GI tract can neutralize many bacteria

The protein, known as intelectin-2, also helps to strengthen the mucus barrier lining the digestive tract.

Headshots (three on top, three on the bottom) of the six winners of the Mentorship Spotlight Award for Fall 2025.

Six Exemplary Mentors honored with Fall 2025 Mentorship Spotlight Awards

The winners were nominated by students, postdocs, faculty, and staff in recognition of their exceptional commitment to mentorship.

In tests in human cancer cells, a derivative of verticillin A showed particular promise against a type of pediatric brain cancer called diffuse midline glioma.

MIT chemists synthesize a fungal compound that holds promise for treating brain cancer

Preliminary studies find derivatives of the compound, known as verticillin A, can kill some types of glioma cells.