The focus of this research is the use of enzymes in key steps of the synthesis of complex molecules. The proposed substrates for the enzymes are meso compounds readily available from the oxidation of simple cyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclopentadiene, benzene, cycloheptatriene, cycloheptene and 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The enzymatic reactions will serve to unveil multiple chiral centers. The resulting building blocks will be exposed to a number of synthetic protocols,including the use of transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions, to give various classes of molecules of biological interest. %%% With this Accomplishment Based Renewal award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. Carl R. Johnson of the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University. Professor Johnson will focus his work on the application of enzymes as catalysts in key steps of the synthesis of complex organic molecules.
