- ORGANIC SYNTHESIS MICHAEL B. SMITH Professor of Chemistry University of Connecticut My group develops asymmetric synthetic methods using lactams. I have written several chemistry BOOKS, including Organic Synthesis. Categories accessible from this site include my curriculum vita, research interests, my publication list, students in my group (past and present), books I have written, exams from my ...www.ucc.uconn.edu/~MBSmith/mbs-home.html