"GROUP
REUNION/SYMPOSIUM" see also a list of Our research focuses upon the development, use, and understanding of reactions and reactive intermediates – and their application to the synthesis of bioactive and other structurally interesting materials. We emphasize mechanistic aspects of the chemistry because we believe in the fundamental importance of them in gaining an understanding of the chemistry and the intermediates we investigate. Our efforts allow the exploration of the chemistry of a variety of interesting and reactive intermediates, including diradicals - especially those related to trimethylenemethane, as well as radical anions and radical cations - the latter being generated using a variety of electrochemical techniques. Current target
structures include molecules containing the bicyclo[5.3.0] core (e.g. daucene) -
accessible using electrocatalytic processes involving the intermediacy
of cation radicals, the pseudopterosins
– a class of marine natural products that display significant
anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties, linearly and angularly
fused tricyclipentanoid
skeleta accessed via a combination of carbenoid and trimentylenemethane
diyl chemistry, and diplopyrone
– a substance of importance in the growth and harvesting of cork and
accessible using C-glycoside chemistry developed in the group.
The
pseudopterosin chemistry involves a collaborative
effort with colleagues
in pharmacology at UCSB including Professor R. S. Jacobs, Dr. Claudia
Moya, and Daniel Day. In addition to studying the natural
products themselves, we are actively engaged in efforts to synthesize
and screen structurally simpler analogues in an effort to determine how
these interesting materials work. A major focus at this time is
to examine the redox properties
of these materials.
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