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Jun Yong Kang (Chemistry and Biochemistry) has been awarded a patent () granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the invention “Metal-free Direct Arylation of Dialkyl Phosphonates for the Synthesis of Mixed Alkyl Aryl Phosphonates” Mixed phosphonates show a wide range of biological applications including phosphonate prodrugs, antibacterial agents, and enzyme inhibitors. This invention affords efficient synthesis of functionalized mixed phosphonates under toxic metal-free conditions. Ultimately, broad access to pharmaceutically relevant phosphate, phosphonate, and phosphinate analogs is attainable through the synthetic method developed in this invention.