Research Projects in the Chemler Group

I. New Reaction Invention and Natural Product Synthesis

Our research is centered in discovering and developing new reactions for organic synthesis using transition metal catalysis. Several new reactions have recently been invented by our group including a Pd(II) catalyzed intramolecular aminobromination of olefins, a Cu(II) promoted intramolecular aminocarbonation of olefins and a Cu(II) promoted intramolecular diamination of olefins.

Nitrogen heterocycles are important components of Nature's chemical communication and important tools in man's constant struggle to fix, interfere with and enhance these natural processes. We have designed the syntheses of several biologically active nitrogen heterocycles using our new methodology.

II. Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal chemistry offers the organic chemist the opportunity to study the effects of small organic molecules in a biological setting. We use our chemistry to synthesize lead compounds. Our collaborators at Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY, test these compounds for anticancer activity. Once a promising lead is identified, we combine our chemical and biological expertise to optimize the structure via molecular target identification and solution phase focused library combinatorial chemistry.

This research is supported by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

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