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Dr. Michael G. Coleman, PHD

(He/Him/His)

Assistant Professor

(585) 395-5594
micoleman@brockport.edu
Office: smith Hall 228
Website
Office Hours:

228 Smith Hall

Monday and Wednesday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Bio

I am a hometown graduate of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) and continued my academic journey at nearby SUNY Buffalo, where I earned both my B.S. and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry. My doctoral research focused on the design, development, and characterization of small molecules (<500 MW) using highly selective and efficient homogeneous transition metal-catalyzed synthetic methodologies. Professionally, I am passionate about teaching, research, and outreach, with a particular commitment to supporting first-generation and low-income students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Education

B.S. Chemistry, SUNY Buffalo, 1997

Ph.D. Medicinal/Organic Chemistry, SUNY Buffalo, 2006

Areas of Specialty

I have expertise in the design, synthesis, and purification of small organic compounds carried out in a highly selective and sustainable manner, employing both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis in alignment with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.

Courses Taught

CHM 305 Organic Chemistry I

CHM 306 Organic Chemistry II

CHM 305 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

CHM 306 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory

Research Interests

My research focuses on the sustainable synthesis of small organic compounds through the integration of mechanochemical strategies, organometallic catalysis, and advanced classical synthetic methodologies, with the goal of developing environmentally responsible approaches that expand the toolkit of modern organic chemistry and enable applications in pharmaceuticals, materials, and green manufacturing.

Executive Director of TRIO (Upward Bound, McNair/CSTEP, and Talent Search) and Director of Talent Search

TRIO is a set of federally funded programs in the United States dedicated to supporting first-generation college students, low-income individuals, and students with disabilities. These programs provide comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support to help students successfully access and complete postsecondary education.

The main TRIO programs include:

Upward Bound – Assists high school students in preparing for and transitioning to college.
McNair Scholars Program – Prepares undergraduates for doctoral studies through research and scholarly engagement.
Educational Talent Search – Identifies and supports students with the potential to pursue postsecondary education, guiding them through the academic pipeline.

“Lubricating abilities of choline amino acid ionic liquids as neat lubricants and additives for aluminum-steel contacts” D.K. Kiboi, L. Stoll, C.M. Mandava, M.G. Coleman, F. Mangolini, P. Iglesias*, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2026, 445, 129211. JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR: 5.2 / CITATIONS: 0 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.129211

“Physicochemical and lubricating properties of choline amino acid ionic liquids as neat lubricants for steel-steel contact” D.K. Kiboi, J. Yan, E. C. Dillon, J.L. Viesca, M.G. Coleman, F. Mangolini, P. Iglesias*, Wear, 2025, 206198. JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR: 5.3 / CITATIONS: 74 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2025.206198

“Lubricating Ability of a Choline-Amino Acid Ionic Liquid as Neat Lubricant and Additive to a Non-Polar Oil” D.K. Kiboi; E., Hansen; J. Ross, M. Coleman, F. Mangolini, P. Iglesias In the Proc. ASME. IMECE2024, Volume 3: Advanced Materials: Design, Processing, Characterization and Applications; Advances in Aerospace Technology, V003T04A011, November 17–21, 2024, IMECE2024-139598. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2024-139598

“Tribological Properties of Borate-Based Protic Ionic Liquids as Neat Lubricants and Biolubricant Additives for Steel-Steel Contact” A. Sierra, M.G. Coleman, P. Iglesias, Lubricants, 2022, 10, 269. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants10100269

“Recyclable Heterogeneous Metal Foil-Catalyzed Cyclopropenation of Alkynes and Diazoacetates Under Solvent-Free Mechanochemical Reaction Conditions” M.G. Coleman, J. Mack, L. Chen, D. Leslie, Chemical Science, 2018, 9, 4650-4661. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SC00443A

“Cyclopropenation of Internal Alkynylsilanes and Diazoacetates Catalyzed by Copper (I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes” T.J. Thomas, B.A. Merritt, B.E. Lemma, A.M. McKoy, T. Nguyen, A.K. Swenson, J.L. Mills, M.G. Coleman, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2016, 14, 1742-1747. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5OB02259B

“Isolation, Total Synthesis, and Biological Activities of 1- Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) Containing Natural Compounds” M.G. Coleman, A.O. Hudson, Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, 2016, 47, 405 - 430. Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“An Inexpensive and Recyclable Silver-Foil Catalyst for the Cyclopropanation of Alkenes with Diazoacetates under Mechanochemical Conditions” L. Chen, M.O. Bovee, B.E. Lemma, K.S.M. Keithley, S.L. Pilson, M.G. Coleman, J. Mack, Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2015, 54 (38), 11084-11087. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201504236

“Silver-Foil-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Alkenes Under Mechanochemical Conditions” Selected by the editorial board for its important insights. SYNFACTS, 2015, 11, 1325. DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1560878

“Efficient and Regioselective Nickel-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cyclotrimerization of Ynoates and Related Alkynes” S.K. Rodrigo, I.V. Powell, M.G. Coleman, J.A. Krause, H. Guan, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2013, 11, 7653. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3OB41872C

“Highly Selective Synthesis of Tetra-substituted Furans and Cyclopropenes: Copper(I)-catalyzed Formal Cycloadditions of Internal Aryl Alkynes and Diazoacetates” A.K. Swenson, K.E. Higgins, M.G. Brewer, W.W. Brennessel, M.G. Coleman, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2012, 10, 7483. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2OB26295A

“Iron-Catalyzed Oppenauer-Type Oxidation of Alcohols” M.G. Coleman, A.N. Brown, B.A. Bolton, H. Guan, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 2010, 352, 967. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsc.200900896

“Intermolecular C–H Functionalization Versus Cyclopropanation of Electron-Rich 1,1-Disubstituted and Trisubstituted Alkenes” D.L. Ventura, Z. Li, M.G. Coleman, H.M.L Davies, Tetrahedron, 2009, 65, 3052-3061. JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR: 2.1 / CITATIONS: 64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2008.11.059

“Balance between Allylic C− H Activation and Cyclopropanation in the Reactions of Donor/Acceptor-Substituted Rhodium Carbenoids with trans-Alkenes” H.M.L Davies, M.G. Coleman, D.L.Ventura Organic Letters, 2007, 9, 4971-4974. JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR: 4.9 / CITATIONS: 74 https://doi.org/10.1021/ol702218w

“Synthesis of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Tribology Applications” Jayden Arroyo (SUNY Plattsburgh), David Buyan (SUNY Brockport), Omari Williams Drew (SUNY Albany), Fanta Kante (SUNY Brockport), Fatima Khodri (SUNY ESF), M. G. Coleman (SUNY Brockport), 1^st Annual SUNY EOP Summer Undergraduate Research Program, SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), Albany, NY, July 22^nd, 2025, Poster Presentation.

“The Synthesis and Characterization of Environmentally Compatible Protic Ionic Liquids for Future Tribological Lubricant Applications” Bruce-Ginther, Aleeya, Dillon, E.K., Coleman, M.G., Rochester Local Section of the American Chemical Society 2025 Collegiate Research Symposium, Rochester, NY, April 12, 2025.

“The Synthesis, Characterization, and Tribological Lubrication Mechanisms of Environmentally Compatible Protic Ionic Liquids” Dillon, E.K., Coleman, M.G. Rochester Academy of Science 50th Annual Paper Session, Geneseo, NY, November 16, 2024, Oral Presentation.

“The Synthesis and Characterization of Environmentally Compatible Protic Ionic Liquids for Future Tribological Lubricant Applications” Dillon, E.K., Coleman, M.G., Rochester Local Section of the American Chemical Society 2024 Collegiate Research Symposium, Rochester, NY, April 12, 2025.

“Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Cyclopropyl-Containing N-Heterocyclic Imidazolium Ligand for Catalytic Asymmetric Transformations” Coleman, M.G. 2nd Annual Beyond CCHF: The Catalysis Innovation Consortium, Atlanta, GA, October 4^th, 2024, Oral Presentation.

“The Life and Times of Professor Michael Coleman – A Retrospective Conversation of Triumphs and Failures” Coleman, M.G. C-STEP/McNair Summer Workshop, Brockport, NY, June 11, 2024, Oral Presentation.

“Solvent-Free High Speed Ball Milling: Mechanochemical Carbene Transfer Reactions” Coleman, M.G. American Chemical Society Northeast Regional Meeting, October 2 – 5, 2022.

“Studies Towards the Synthesis of a Novel Class of Chiral Silver N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes” Cheema, G. and Coleman, M.G. Online Virtual Undergraduate Research Symposium, July 29 – August 4, 2021.

“Studies Towards the Synthesis of a Novel Class of Chiral Silver N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes” Cheema, G. and Coleman, M.G. HHMI IE Undergraduate Research Symposium, July 30^th, 2021.

“Organic synthesis of Solvent-free High-speed Ball-milling Mechanochemical (HSBM) Carbene Transfer Reactions” Donga, M. and Coleman, M.G. 25^th American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, June 2021 within the “Making Organic Chemistry More Sustainable” session. Awarded Graduate Chemistry Travel Funding.

“Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclopropanations with Commercially Available NHC Precursors” Johnson, N.R. and Coleman. M.G. 64^th Annual Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society Collegiate Research Symposium, April 13, 2019.

“Stereoselective Resolution of Racemic Cyclopropyl Esters” Gubernick, N. and Coleman, M.G. 64^th Annual Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society Collegiate Research Symposium, April 13, 2019.

“Studies Toward the Stereoselective Cyclopropanation of Aryldiazoacetates with Chiral Silver N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes” Johnson, N.R.; Gubernick, N. and Coleman. M.G. 63^rd Annual Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society Collegiate Research Symposium, April 28, 2019.

“All Things Carbene: The Non-Precious Metal Catalyzed Conversion of Readily Available Starting Materials into Complex Molecular Building Blocks and Imaging Agents” Coleman, M.G. Nazareth College, Invited Seminar Speaker, January 31, 2019.

Environmental Injustice: A Chemical, Sociological, and Geographic Analysis of Brownfields in Rochester, NY, Rochester Preparatory High School, Kamara, V.; Strickland, G.; Williams, C.; Harper, H.; Beck, M.; Coleman, M.G. February 27, 2019.

“Studies Toward the Selective Non-Precious Metal Catalyzed Conversion of Readily Starting Materials into Complex Molecular Building Blocks” Coleman, M.G. Emory University, NSF CCHF Annual Meeting, Network for Diversity in Chemical Research, January 12, 2018, Invited Chemistry Seminar Speaker.

“All Things Carbene: The Non-Precious Metal Catalyzed Conversion of Readily Available Starting Materials into Complex Molecular Building Blocks” Coleman, M.G. Emory University, NSF CCHF Annual Meeting, January 19, 2017, Invited Chemistry Seminar Speaker.

“Cyclopropanes and Cyclopropenes: From Obscurity to Moiety” Coleman, M.G. Old Dominion University, Department of Chemistry, April 2016, Invited Chemistry Seminar Speaker.

“Studies Toward the Synthesis of a Novel Plant Hormone Imaging Agent” Merritt, B. Shah, K.; Nguyen, T.; Coleman, M.G.; Northeast Section of the American Society of Plant Biology, Ithaca, NY, April 2016, Poster Presentation.

“Novel surface catalyzed cyclopropenation in mechanochemical synthesis” Leslie, D.; Chen, L.; Coleman, M.; Mack, J. 251^st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, CA, March 2016, Poster Presentation.

“Cyclopropanes and Cyclopropenes: From Obscurity to Moiety” Coleman, M.G. State University of New York, Potsdam, Department of Chemistry, October 2015, Invited Chemistry Seminar Speaker.

“Studies Toward the Synthesis of a Novel Plant Hormone Imaging Agent” Merritt, B. Shah, K.; Nguyen, T.; Coleman, M.G.; Rochester Institute of Technology, Undergraduate Research Symposium, August 2015, Oral Presentation.

“Transition Metal-Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reaction of Internal Alkynylsilanes and Diazoacetate Compounds” Thomas, Thomas J.; Merritt, Benjamin A.; Lemma, Betsegaw E.; McKoy, Adina M.; Nguyen, Tri; Swenson, Andrew K.; Coleman, Michael G.; 40th Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Ithaca, NY, United States, June 11, 2015, Oral Presentation.

“Studies Toward the Synthesis of a Novel Plant Hormone Imaging Agent,” Merritt, B.; Shah, K.; Nguyen, T.; Coleman, M.G.; 60^th Annual Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 18, 2015, Oral Presentation.

“How Sweet It Is: A Specific Gravity Analysis of Sugar in Fountain Versus Bottle Beverages” Saturday NOVA Academy, Science & Technology Entry Program, NYS STEP and C-STEP Conference, Albany NY, Rochester City School, Greece Central, and Rush Henrietta School Districts, Grades 9 -12, March 2015, Poster Presentation.

“Highly Selective Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cycloadditions of Internal Alkyne and Diazoacetate Compounds,” M.G. Coleman, Alfred University, April 2014, Invited Chemistry Seminar Speaker.

“Corrosion: An Environmentally Destructive Process” Saturday NOVA Academy, Science & Technology Entry Program, NYS STEP and C-STEP Conference, Albany NY, Rochester City School, Greece Central, and Rush Henrietta School Districts, Grades 9 -12, March 2014, Poster Presentation.

“Efficient and Regioselective [2+2+2] Cyclotrimerization of Ynoates and Related Alkynes Catalyzed by Nickel” Rodrigo, Sanjeewa K.; Powell, Israel V.; Coleman, Michael G.; Krause, Jeanette A.; Guan, Hairong 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX, United States, March 16-20, 2014, Poster Presentation.

“Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cyclopropenation of Internal Alkynes with Diazoacetates” Thomas, Thomas J.; Lemma, Betsegaw E.; Merritt, Benjamin A.; McKoy, Adina M.; Nguyen, Tri; Saviola, Daniel M.; Swenson, Andrew K.; Coleman, Michael G. 39^th Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Haven, CT, United States, October 23 – 26, 2013, Poster Presentation.

“Asymmetric Catalysis in Undergraduate Education: A Comprehensive Literature Review,” Green Chemistry in Higher Education: EPA Region 2 Faculty Workshop, Coleman, M.G., Siena College, Loudonville, NY, July 2013, Oral Presentation.

Open gallery

Dr. Michael G. Coleman, PHD

Bio

Education

Areas of Specialty

Courses Taught

Research Interests

Awards/Recognitions

Recent Publications

Presentations