My research program spans reaction development, natural product total synthesis, and natural product-inspired function-oriented synthesis. This seminar will focus on one program in natural product synthesis that has been of interest to me since the early 2000s — the development of a conceptually unique approach to the de novo synthesis of ryanoids. A brief history will be presented that spans isolation and synthesis activities, with the bulk of the seminar being focused on how my research group pursued the synthesis of ryanodol.
Alkali metals, such as lithium and sodium, are naturally abundant elements, and their compounds are historically inexpensive and readily available. Due to these advantages, organic synthetic reactions utilizing alkali metals are among the most useful transformations, and countless studies have been reported to date. However, many of these classical reactions could entail practical problems, including inherently low selectivity and slow reaction rate, which in turn limits the substrate scope and require harsh conditions such as high temperature and pressure.
Dr. Wolfe is a Mathias P. Mertes Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Kansas. His research career has been dedicated to elucidating the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Awards for his work include a Zenith Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, the MetLife Award for Biomedical Research, and the Potamkin Prize from the American Academy of Neurology. His lab has been especially focused on the γ-secretase complex, a protease that plays central roles in Alzheimer pathogenesis.
