Nicolai Cramer

Nicolai Cramer is a Full Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the Department of Chemistry (CHEM). His research focuses on enantioselective metal-catalyzed transformations and their application in the synthesis of biologically active molecules. Cramer was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and studied chemistry at the University of Stuttgart, earning his PhD in 2005 under Professor Sabine Laschat. He joined the group of Professor Barry M. Trost at Stanford University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2006. Cramer was promoted to Full Professor at EPFL in 2015. His work includes teaching courses on organic chemistry and synthetic methods.

Nicolai Cramer is a researcher focused on asymmetric catalysis, particularly in the development of chiral ligands for transition-metal catalyzed reactions. His work centers on enantioselective C–H bond functionalizations, C–C bond activations, and the design of chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands. He explores catalytic enantioselective transformations involving C–H bond cleavage and the use of rhodium and iridium complexes in asymmetric reactions. His research includes the synthesis of chiral phosphine oxides, sultams, and isoindolones through directed C–H activation. Cramer's contributions emphasize the role of chiral ligands in controlling stereochemistry and enabling efficient, selective catalytic processes.