The
Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture in Organic Synthesis
“New Synthetic Methods Inspired by Complex Natural Products”
Presented by Prof. John Porco, Boston University
December 4, 2008 at 4:30pm
Room 209 Havemeyer Hall
Research in the Porco laboratory (http://people.bu.edu/porcogrp) is focused in two major areas: the development of new synthetic methodologies for efficient chemical synthesis of complex molecules and synthesis of complex chemical libraries, the latter conducted at the NIH-funded Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development at Boston University (CMLD-BU). Synthetic methodologies developed in the Porco laboratory include: copper (I)-mediated formation of enamides, oxa-electrocyclization/dimerization of dienals enroute to complex epoxyquinoid frameworks; enantioselective oxidative dearomatization using chiral copper complexes and molecular oxygen; photocycloadditionoxidopyryliums enroute to the rocaglamides and related natural products, and catalytic ester-amide exchange using group (IV) metal alkoxide-activator complexes. In the past six years, his research group has synthesized over twenty five complex natural product targets, including nine epoxyquinoid natural products, four salicylate enamidemacrolides, the rocaglamides, and kinamycin C. This presentation will outline recent examples illustrating methodologies developed during the course of complex molecule syntheses, including biomimetic syntheses of complex natural product targets.
Hosted by Prof. Tristan Lambert
Tea & cookies will be served prior to the lecture.
