Organic Synthesis

trevor.raineychemistry.montana.edu

Organic synthesis has developed over the past 180 years to the extent that few organic
compounds lie outside the realm of feasible construction. Despite such advances, the
inability of chemical synthesis to construct molecules of even moderate complexity in a
practical sense both reflects deficiencies in our understanding of chemical reactivity as
well as serves to illustrate the need for new reaction development.

Towards redressing these shortcomings, I intend to initiate a research program that will
focus foremost on the synthesis of architecturally interesting, biologically active
compounds, with a strong emphasis on the development of novel reaction methodologies
of general utility. In effect, natural product targets will serve as focal points for the
development of new reactions, strategies, and stereoselective methods.

These goals will be initially pursued in the context of the natural products actinophyllic
acid; the daphnicyclidin family of alkaloids; and the azatricyclic core of madangamine F.