The focus of this research is the development of unprotected methods for carbohydrate synthesis. Coupling of aryl- and alkyl substitutes propargyl halides with various unprotected carbohydrates, mediated by a metal will be investigated using aqueous solvent. The resulting products will be transformed into C-glycosides without using protection-deprotection processes. The methodology will then be extended to the syntheses of natural products, including: (+)-goniofufurone, (+)-7-epigoniofurfurone, (+)-goniobutenolide A, (+)-goniodiol and the main skeletons of papulacandin (A,B,C.D), chactiacandin, and trachelospermum asiaticum. The focus of the educational activities will be the development of an undergraduate course entitled `The World of Organic Chemistry: Food and Drugs.` An outreach program targeting elementary and high school students is also planned. With this Faculty Early Development (CAREER) award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research and educational activities of Dr. Chao-Jun Li of the Department of Chemistry at Tulane University. Professor Li will focus his research efforts on developing synthetic methods for the preparation of carbohydrates without resorting to the long protection-deprotection strategies that have been relied on in the past. The educational activities center around course development and outreach.
