Research

Research Overview

Our goal is to advance the field of synthetic organic chemistry with two main objectives in mind: (1) The discovery of more efficient methods for the synthesis of complex molecules that could ultimately reduce the cost, environmental impact, and time required for the discovery and manufacture of pharmaceuticals; and (2) The design and synthesis of novel small molecules with the potential to impact the understanding and treatment of human disease. We invent new chemical reactions and new strategies for the synthesis of bioactive small molecules, and seek to integrate this work with disease-relevant biology through our own expertise and outside collaborations.

Catalysis
Novel catalysts can enable synthetic transformations that are otherwise impossible. We are working in the field of organocatalysis. Organocatalytic reactions are often complementary to metal-catalyzed reactions and offer advantages in cost and environmental impact. We are interested in developing a range of new organocatalytic transformations, including C–H oxidations.

C–H Functionalization

Synthetic Methods
New step- and atom-economical synthetic methods can enable the practical synthesis of a variety of small molecules, including those that could potentially be developed into pharmaceuticals and biological tool compounds. We are particularly interested in the development of new reactions that can be used for the synthesis or selective modification of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, which are ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals.

Synthesis of N-heterocycles

Total Synthesis
Frequently, promising drug leads that are isolated from natural sources are never evaluated preclinically or clinically due to low natural abundance. Synthesis can address issues of material supply, often providing grams of material when only milligrams are available by isolation. We are interested in developing scalable routes to potent therapeutic leads for which no practical synthetic solution currently exists.

Medicinal Chemistry
Expertise in synthetic chemistry allows us to design and synthesize custom analogs of natural products and other bioactive lead compounds in order to optimize their biological activity with the ultimate goal of developing new therapeutics. We are particularly interested in projects that address the need for new drugs to combat cancer, infectious disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.