With this CAREER Award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Professor Armen Zakarian of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida State University. This research project is directed toward the development of new methods for the synthesis of complex natural products. Several methods based on sigmatropic rearrangements and enolization chemistry form the foundation of the project. These include a Lewis-acid mediated hetero-Cope rearrangement that will be used to assemble oxazine rings, a tandem reaction for the synthesis of functionalized cyclohexenols incorporating a stereogenic quaternary center, and the stereoselective generation of tetrasubstituted acyclic enolates. This project, which will improve efficiency of chemical synthesis, will expand the scope of organic compounds available for research in areas such as drug development and materials science.
Professor Zakarian will also initiate variety of educational programs designed to increase awareness of the benefits of chemical research to society. These programs include the development of a museum-based series of activities that will expose the general public to state-of-the-art organic chemistry and have the potential to attract young students to careers in science.
Major outcomes of the award include advancing synthetic methodology through the development of new methods for the economical, energy efficient preparation of valuable organic compounds. Access to organic compounds with diverse structure and functionality is vital for progress in many sciences and industries, most importantly polymer, materials, pharamceutical industries and medicine. As a result of research projects undertaken under this award, several new methods were developed and tested that reduce the number of trasformations required to prepare desired synthetic building blocks, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing waste. These methods will be broadly useful for researchers in academia and industry. Some of specific goals included developing new reactions based on radical reactivity of enolates, and application of the power emerging CH-activation methodology for the synthesis of natural products with anticancer and neuroprotective properties. An integral component of the project is training of undergraduat, graduate, and postdoctoral students in organic chemistry. This is a demanding subject that is best mastered through the practice of complex molecule synthesis. Project participants have been exposed to multiple opportunities of training in the field and have become experts in organic synthesis. Several students found imployment in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, while others continued to expand their education at the postdoctoral level at leading institutions. In addition, participants in the project have been involved in various outreach activities. The major venues have been the NanoDays and SciTrek, which are programs that showcase the benefits and fun of science and science education to students of elementary schools and the general public in the Santa Barbara area.
