RESEARCH

The sky's the limit (unless you're an astronaut)!

SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL AMINES FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Out lab is interesting in developing strategies for elaborating amine feedstocks through either C–H activation or alkene functionalization to rapidly access new drug-like molecules. In addition to developing the synthetic methodology, we are working to apply these methods to the synthesis of novel compound libraries, and leverage those libraries for the development of new therapeutics.

HYDROGEN BOND DIRECTED CATALYSIS

Our goal is to achieve remote or distal functionalizations of unactivated C–H bonds. To do this, we will target unconventional strategies for how directing groups interact with a catalyst to achieve site-selective C–H functionalization. These approaches are anticipated to have significant impact on drug discovery by allowing facile late stage functionalization of complex substrates, as well as for more sustainable synthesis of polymer precursors from renewable feedstocks.

SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS OF SUPRAMOLECULAR STRUCTURES

Supramolecular chemistry focuses on using non-covalent interactions to bring molecules together in solution. We are interested in the ability of the supramolecular assemblies to serves as chemical sensors as well as catalysts. Recently we've become especially interested in the resorcin[4]arene family as an readily accessible catalyst system that can be used to achieve supramolecular/organo cocatalysis of organic transformations, with potential to achieve higher stereo and regioselectivity than can be used with either method on its own.

SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO POLYMER SYNTHESIS

Polymers are an important part of our current lifestyle, however, the build-up of non-biodegradable polymers in the environment, as well as the depletion of resources, makes this unsustainable. One of our goals is to develop new methods to prepare monomers for novel polymer applications using naturally occurring fatty acid substrates and carbon dioxide.