CHEMISTRY

Chemistry researchers in our group develop expertise in medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry and biological chemistry; conducting solution and solid phase organic synthesis; structure determination through 2D NMR spectroscopy; computer-aided molecular and drug design; and study interactions between small molecules, and with proteins, DNA and RNA. We particularly focus on developing general approaches to basic and strategic chemistry that are applicable to diverse classes of chemical structures. We spend a great deal of time controlling molecular shape, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, nucleophilicity/electrophilicity in order to influence chemical reactivity and molecular recognition. Outcomes are new chemical reactions, novel chemical mechanisms, novel organic compounds, new chemical structures; new enzyme inhibitors, protein agonists and antagonists, and small molecule structural mimics of protein surfaces; and new leads to drugs, diagnostics and vaccines. Our group includes biochemists, immunologists and pharmacologists, who collaborate in studies on those of our compounds that have been designed to have biological activities.