W. Dean Harman

Harman prepared and explored a series of novel bridgehead CF3-substituted isoquinuclidines from decomplexed dihydropyridines, and suggested that dihapto-coordinate complex can be isolated as a single diastereomer, methylated, and reacted with a number of nucleophiles. In 2017, he reviewed a series of his papers published between 2005 and 2017 that focused on the organic reactions of aromatic ligands η2-coordinated to tungsten, and the usage of these reactions in the synthesis of novel organic substances. Furthermore, in collaboration with Daniel Ess, he conducted experiments and directed dynamics simulations to investigate η2-arene/aryl hydride equilibria of tungsten benzene complexes in which the arene is held more loosely than in the ground state, primarily through dispersion forces.

Harman held a brief appointment as an instructor at Stanford University before joining the University of Virginia as Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1989. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1994, and became a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry in 1997. He also held an administrative appointment in his career. From 2011 till 2019, he served as the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia.

Harman is the son of Willis Harman. He was born on November 4, 1960, in Stanford, California. He studied at Stanford University and received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1983, and a Doctoral Degree in Chemistry in 1987. He then served there as a research associate with Henry Taube until 1989.