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.

some current target structures