Synthetic and Receptor Signaling Explorations of the Mitragyna Alkaloids: Mitragynine as an Atypical Molecular Framework for Opioid Receptor Modulators.
Andrew C. Kruegel, Madalee M. Gassaway, Abhijeet Kapoor, Andras Varadi, Susruta Majumdar, Marta Filizola, Jonathan A. Javitch, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Fluorescent false neurotransmitter reveals functionally silent dopamine vesicle clusters in the striatum.
Daniela B. Pereira, Yvonne Scmitz, Jozsef Meszaros, Paolimi Merchant, Gang Hu, Shu Li, Adam Henke, Jose E. Lizardi-Ortiz, Richard J. Karpowicz Jr, Travis J. Morgenstern, Mark S. Sonders, Ellen Kanter, Pamela C. Rodriguez, Eugene V. Mosharov, Dalibor Sames & David Sulzer.
Nature Neuroscience. 2016, doi:10.1038/nn.4252 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Mechanisms of amphetamine action illuminated through optical monitoring of dopamine synaptic vesicles in Drosophila brain.
Zachary Freyberg, Mark S. Sonders, Jenny I. Aguilar, Takato Hiranita, Caline S. Karam, Jorge Flores, Andrea B. Pizzo, Yuchao Zhang, Zachary J. Farino, Audrey Chen, Ciara A. Martin, Theresa A. Kopajtic, Hao Fei, Gang Hu, Yi-Ying Lin, Eugene V. Mosharov, Brian D. McCabe, Robin Freyberg, Kandatege Wimalasena, Ling-Wei Hsin et al.
Nature Communications. 2016, doi:10.1038/ncomms10652 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Deconstructing the Iboga Alkaloid Skeleton: Potentiation of FGF2-induced Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Release by a Novel Compound.
Madalee M. Gassaway, Teresa L. Jacques, Andrew C. Kruegel, Richard J. Karpowicz Jr., Xiaoguang Li, Shu Li, Yves Myer, and Dalibor Sames.
ACS Chemical Biology 2015, ASAP [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Synaptic optical imaging platforms: Examining pharmacological modulation of neurotransmitter release at discrete synapses.
Paolomi Merchant, David Sulzer, Dalibor Sames.
Neuropharmacology. 2015, 98, 90-94 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Constructing iboga alkaloids via C-H bond functionalization: Examination of the direct and catalytic union of heteroarenes and isoquinuclidine alkenes.
Andrew C. Kruegel, Souvik Rakshit, Xiaoguang Li, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2015, 54 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

NeuO: A fluorescent chemical probe for live neuron labeling.
Jun Cheng Er, Cheryl Leong, Chai Lean Teoh, Qiang Yuan, Paolomi Merchant, Matthew Dunn, David Sulzer, Dalibor Sames, Akshay Bhinge, et al.
Angew. Chem. Int'l. Ed. 2015, 54 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Access to drug metabolites via C-H functionalization: copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of N,N-dimethylalkylamines in complex pharmaceuticals.
Julien Genovino, Dalibor Sames, B. Barry Touré.
Tetrahedron Lett. 2014 56, 3066-3069 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

The atypical antidepressant and neurorestorative agent tianeptine is a μ-opiod receptor agonist.
MM Gassaway, M-L Rives, AC Kruegel, JA Javitch, D Sames.
Transl. Psychiatry. 2014, 1-5 [HTML]

Paradoxical Abatement of Striatal Dopaminergic Transmission by Cocaine and Methylphenidate.
Mauro Federici, Emanuele Claudio Lataliata, Ada Ledonne, Francesca R. Rizzo, Marco Feligioni, David Sulzer, Matthew Dunn, Dalibor Sames, Howard Gu, Robert Nisticó, Stefano Puglisi-Allegra, and Nicola B. Mercuri.
J. Biol. Chem. 2014, 289, 264-274 [HTML] [Full Text-PDF]

Complementation of Biotransformations with Chemical C-H Oxidation: Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Tertiary Amines in Complex Pharmaceuticals.
Julien Genovino, Stephan Lutz, Dalibor Sames, and B. Barry Touré.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 12346-12352 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

New Fluorescent Substrate Enables Quantitative and High-Throughput Examination of Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2).
Gang Hu, Adam Henke, Richard J. Karpowicz, Jr., Mark S. Sonders, Frances Farrimond, Robert Edwards, David Sulzer, and Dalibor Sames.
ACS Chem. Biol. 2013, Article ASAP [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

APP+, a Fluorescent Analogue of the Neurotoxin MMP+, Is a Marker of Catecholamine Neurons in Brain Tissue, but Not a Fluorescent False Neurotransmitter.
Richard J. Karpowicz, Jr., Matthew Dunn, David Sulzer, Dalibor Sames.
ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2013, 4, 858-869 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Visualizing Neurotransmitter Secretion at Individual Synapses.
Dalibor Sames, Matthew Dunn, Richard J. Karpowicz, Jr., David Sulzer.
ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2013, 4, 648-651 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bonds as Ubiquitous Functionality: Preparation of Multiple Regioisomers of Arylated 1,2,4-Triazoles via C-H Arylation.
Jung-Min Joo, Pengfei Guo, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 738-743 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Fluorescent Dopamine Tracer Resolves Individual Dopaminergic Synapses and their Activity in the Brain.
Pamela C. Rodriguez, Daniela B. Pereira, Anders Borgkvist, Minerva Y. Wong, Candace Barnard, Mark S. Sonders, Hui Zhang, Dalibor Sames and David Sulzer.
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 2012 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Catalytic Coupling of Arene C-H Bonds and Alkynes for the Synthesis of Coumarins: Substrate Scope and Application to the Development of Neuroimaging Agents.
Paul A. Vadola and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 7804-7814 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bond Functionalization via Hydride Transfer: Formation of α-Arylated Piperidines and 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolines via Stereoselective Intraolecular Amination of Benzylic C-H Bonds.
Paul A. Vadola, Ignacio Carrera, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 6689-6702 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Arylation of Pyridines: High Regioselectivity as a Consequence of the Electronic Character of C-H Bonds and Heteroarene Ring.
Pengfei Guo, Jung Min Joo, Souvik Rakshit, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 16338-16341 [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Intermolecular Energy Transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ in Aqueous Aggregates and on the Surface of Human Cells.
Minhee Lee, Matthew S. Tremblay, Steffen Jockusch, Nicholas J. Turro, and Dalibor Sames.
ACS Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 2802-2805. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Expanding the Use of Fluorogenic Enzyme Reporter Substrates to Imaging Metabolic Flux Changes: the Activity Measurement of 5α-Steroid Reductase in Intact Mammalian Cells.
Pamela C. Rodriguez, Dominic J. Yee, and Dalibor Sames.
ACS Chem. Biol. 2010, ASAP. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

(-)-CHANA, a Fluorogenic Probe for Detecting Amyloid Binding Alcohol Dehydrogenase HSD10 Activity in Living Cells.
Kirsty E. A. Muirhead, Mary Froemming, Xiaoguang Li, Kamil Musilek, Stuart J. Conway, Dalibor Sames, and Frank J. Gunn-Moore.
ACS Chem. Biol. 2010, ASAP. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bonds as Ubiquitous Functionality: A General Approach to Complex Arylated Imidazoles via Regioselective Sequential Arylation of All Three C-H Bonds and Regioselective N-Alkylation Enabled by SEM-Group Transposition.
Jung Min Joo, B. Barry Touré, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 4911-4920. (Featured Article) [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Development of pH-Responsive Fluorescent False Neurotransmitters.
Minhee Lee, Niko G. Gubernator, David Sulzer, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 8828-8830. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Dopamine Release at Individual Presynaptic Terminals Visualized with FFNs.
Hui Zhang, Niko G. Gubernator, Minerva Yue, Roland G. W. Staal, Eugene V. Mosharov, Daniela Pereira, Vojtech Balsanek, Paul A. Vadola, Bipasha Mukherjee, Robert H. Edwards, David Sulzer, and Dalibor Sames.
Journal of Visualized Experiments. [html]

C-H Bond Functionalization via Hydride Transfer: Direct Coupling of Unactivated Alkynes and sp³ C-H Bonds Catalyzed by Platinum Tetraiodide.
Paul A. Vadola and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 16525-16528. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bond Functionalization via Hydride Transfer: Synthesis of Dihydrobenzopyrans from ortho-Vinylaryl Akyl Ethers.
Kevin M. McQuaid, Jonathan Z. Long and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 2972-2975. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This article was selected by the Editorial Board of Synfacts for its important insights. Synfacts 2009, 1085. [HTML] [PDF]

Fluorescent False Neurotransmitters Visualize Dopamine Release from Individual Presynaptic Terminals.
Niko G. Gubernator, Hui Zhang, Roland G. W. Staal, Eugene V. Mosharov, Daniela Pereira, Minerva Yue, Vojtech Balsanek, Paul A. Vadola, Bipasha Mukherjee, Robert H. Edwards, David Sulzer, and Dalibor Sames.
Science 2009, 324. 1441-1444. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work has been featured in Chemical & Engineering News. [html]
This work has been also reviewed by Nature Methods [html] [pdf] and Physiology [pdf].

C-H Bonds as Ubiquitous Functionality: A General Approach to Complex Arylated Pyrazoles via Sequential Regioselective C-Arylation and N-Alkylation Enabled by SEM-Group Transposition.
Roman Goikhman, Teresa L. Jacques and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 3042-3048. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bond Functionalization via Hydride Transfer: Lewis Acid Catalyzed Alkylation Reactions by Direct Intramolecular Coupling of sp³ C-H Bonds and Reactive Alkenyl Oxocarbenium Intermediates.
Kevin M. McQuaid and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 402-403. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This article was selected by the Editorial Board of Synfacts for its important insights. Synfacts 2009, 407. [HTML] [PDF]
Sigma Aldrich [Link] and Organic Chemistry Portal [Link] also reviewed this article on their websites.

Imaging Induction of Cytoprotective Enzymes in Intact Human Cells: Coumberone, a Metabolic Reporter for Human AKR1C Enzymes Reveals Activation by Panaxytriol, an Active Component of Red Ginseng.
Marlin Halim, Dominic J. Yee, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 14123-14128. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This article was featured as a "Spotlight" in Chemical Research in Toxicology. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

A Luminescent Sensor for Tyrosine Phosphorylation.
Matthew S. Tremblay, Minhee Lee, and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 5-8. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Harnessing Functional Plasticity of Enzymes: A Fluorogenic Probe for Imaging 17β-HSD10 Dehydrogenase, an Enzyme Involved in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases.
Mary K. Froemming and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 14518-14522. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work was highlighted in the December 2007 issue of Biophotonics International (p. 12).

Ruthenium Catalyzed Decarbonylative Arylation at sp³ Carbon Centers in Pyrrolidine and Piperidine Heterocycles.
Denis V. Gribkov, Stefan J. Pastine, Michael Schnurch, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 11750-11755. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Transposing Molecular Fluorescent Switches into the Near-IR: Development of Luminogenic Reporter Substrates for Redox Metabolism.
Marlin Halim, Matthew S. Tremblay, Steffen Jockusch, Nicholas J. Turro, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7704-7705. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Cocktails of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ Complexes: A General Platform for the Design of Ratiometric Optical Probes.
Matthew S. Tremblay, Marlin Halim, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7570-7577. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Two-Photon Excitation of Fluorogenic Probes for Redox Metabolism: Dramatic Enhancement of Optical Contrast Ratio by Two-Photon Excitation.
Steffen Jockusch, Qingdong Zheng, Guang S. He, Haridas E. Pudavar, Dominic J. Yee, Vojtech Balsanek, Marlin Halim, Dalibor Sames, Paras N. Prasad, and Nicholas J. Turro.
J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 8872-8877. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Phosphine-Free Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Arylation of Free (N-H)-Indoles and Pyrroles.
Xiang Wang, Denis V. Gribkov, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 1476-1479. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

sp³ C-H Bond Arylation Directed by Amidine Protecting Group: α-Arylation of Pyrrolidines and Piperidines.
Stefan J. Pastine, Denis V. Gribkov, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 14220-14221. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Synthesis of Luminescent Heterometallic Bis-Lanthanide Complexes via Selective, Sequential Metallation.
Matthew S. Tremblay and Dalibor Sames.
Chem. Commun. 2006, 4116-4118. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Fluorogenic Metabolic Probes for Direct Activity Readout of Redox Enzymes: Selective Measurement of Human AKR1C2 in Living Cells .
Dominic J. Yee, Vojtech Balsanek, David R. Bauman, Trevor M. Penning, and Dalibor Sames.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2006, 103, 13304-13309. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Phosphorylation State-Responsive Lanthanide Peptide Conjugates: A Luminescence Switch Based on Reversible Complex Reorganization.
Matthew S. Tremblay, Qing Zhu, Angel A. Marti, Joanne Dyer, Marlin Halim, Steffen Jockusch, Nicholas J. Turro, and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 2723-2726. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Catalytic C-H Arylation of SEM-Protected Azoles with Palladium Complexes of NHCs and Phosphines.
B. Barry Touré, Benjamin S. Lane, and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 1979-1982. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bond Functionalization in Complex Organic Synthesis.
Kamil Godula and Dalibor Sames.
Science 2006, 312, 67-72. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Fluoromorphic Substrates for Fatty Acid Metabolism: Highly Sensitive Probes for Mammalian Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase.
Mary K. Froemming and Dalibor Sames.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 637-642. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Room Temperature Intramolecular Hydro-O-alkylation of Aldehydes: sp³ C-H Functionalization via a Lewis Acid Catalyzed Tandem 1,5-Hydride Transfer/Cyclization.
Stefan J. Pastine and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 5429-5431. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Room Temperature Hydroalkylation of Electron-Deficient Olefins: sp³ C-H Functionalization via a Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Intramolecular Redox Event.
Stefan J. Pastine, Kevin M. McQuaid, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 12180-12181. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work was highlighted in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 1683-1684. [Full Text-PDF]

A New Fluorogenic Transformation: Development of an Optical Probe for Coenzyme Q.
Matthew S. Tremblay and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 2417-2420. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Direct Palladium-Catalyzed C-2 and C-3 Arylation of Indoles: A Mechanistic Rationale for Regioselectivity.
Benjamin S. Lane, Meghann A. Brown, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 8050-8057. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Direct C-Arylation of Free (NH)-Indoles and Pyrroles Catalyzed by Ar-Rh(III) Complexes Assembled In Situ.
Xiang Wang, Benjamin S. Lane, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 4996-4997. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Two-Photon Induced Uncaging of a Reactive Intermediate. Multiphoton In Situ Detection of a Potentially Valuable Label for Biological Applications.
Joanne Dyer, Steffen Jockusch, Vojtech Balsanek, Dalibor Sames, and Nicholas J. Turro.
J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 2143-2147. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Design of Optical Switches as Metabolic Indicators: New Fluorogenic Probes for Monoamine Oxidases (MAO A and B).
Gong Chen, Dominic J. Yee, Niko G. Gubernator, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 4544-4545. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Direct C-H Bond Arylation: Selective Palladium-Catalyzed C2-Arylation of N-Substituted Indoles.
Benjamin S. Lane and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 2897-2900. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Cross-Coupling of sp³ C-H Bonds and Alkenes: Catalytic Cyclization of Alkene-Amide Substrates.
Brenton DeBoef, Stefan J. Pastine, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 6556-6557. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

New Tools for Molecular Imaging of Redox Metabolism: Development of a Fluorogenic Probe for 3r-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases.
Dominic J. Yee, Vojtech Balsanek, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 2282-2283. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Ru(III)-Catalyzed Cyclization of Arene-Alkene Substrates via Intramolecular Electrophilic Hydroarylation.
So Won Youn, Stefan J. Pastine, and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 581-584. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Concise Synthesis of the Chemopreventitive Agent (±)-Deguelin via a Key 6-Endo Hydroarylation.
Stefan J. Pastine and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 4053-4055. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Reactivity of Functional Groups on the Protein Surface: Development of Epoxide Probes for Protein Labeling.
Gong Chen, Alexander Heim, Doris Riether, Dominic Yee, Yelena Milgrom, Mary Ann Gawinowicz, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 8130-8133. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Pt(IV)-Catalyzed Cyclization of Arene-Alkyne Substrates via C-H Bond Functionalization.
Stefan J. Pastine, So Won Youn, and Dalibor Sames.
Tetrahedron 2003, 59, 8859-8868. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This article was one of the most cited papers in Tetrahedron, 2003-2006.

Pt(IV)-Catalyzed Cyclization of Arene-Alkyne Substrates via Intramolecular Electrophilic Hydroarylation.
Stefan J. Pastine, So Won Youn, and Dalibor Sames.
Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 1055-1058. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-C Bond Formation via C-H Bond Activation: Synthesis of the Core of Teleocidin B4.
Brian D. Dangel, Kamil Godula, So Won Youn, Bengü Sezen, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 11856-11857. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work was highlighted in Chemtracts-Organic Chemistry 2003,16, 249-253. [Full Text-PDF]

Total Synthesis of (-)-Rhazinilam: Asymmetric C-H Bond Activation via the Use of a Chiral Auxiliary.
James A. Johnson, Ning Li, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6900-6903. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Selective Functionalization of Amino Acids in Water: A Synthetic Method via Catalytic C-H Bond Activation.
Brian D. Dangel, James A. Johnson, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 8149-8150. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work was highlighted in Chem. & Eng. News 2001, 79, 33. [Full Text-HTML]

New Fluorogenic Probes for Oxygen and Carbene Transfer: A Sensitive Assay for Single Bead-Supported Catalysts.
Rayane Moreira, Miroslav Havranek, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 3927-3931. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

C-H Bond Activation of Hydrocarbon Segments in Complex Organic Molecules: Total Synthesis of the Antimitotic Rhazinilam.
James A. Johnson and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 6321-6322. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]
This work was highlighted in Chem. & Eng. News 2000,78, 12. [Full Text-HTML]

Combinatorial Approach to the Development of Fluorescent Sensors for Nanomolar Aqueous Copper.
Arun Singh, Qingwei Yao, Ling Tong, W. Clark Still and Dalibor Sames.
Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 9601-9605. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Highly Regioselective Oxygenation of C-H Bonds: Diamidomanganese Constructs with Attached Substrates as Catalyst Models.
Rayane F. Moreira, Paul M. Wehn, Dalibor Sames.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2000, 39, 1618-1621. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]

Evolution and Study of Polymer-Supported Metal Catalysts for Oxygen Atom Transfer: Oxidation of Alkanes and Alkenes by Diamide Manganese Complexes.
Miroslav Havranek, Arun Singh, and Dalibor Sames.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 8965-8966. [Abstract] [Full Text-PDF]