Steven’s Research
Selected Current Research
Enantioselective Methodology Development of Chiral EpoxidesSymmetrical cyclopentane oxides were some of the first substrates to be successfully transformed into chiral products using chiralbases, but there is still uncertainty as the role of the remote oxygen, which to date has always been required for a successful reaction. My group are evaluating the range of substrates A-H using a variety of bases, with and without chelating effects. In addition, novel 6,5-systems (G-H) are also being investigated and a paper summarising these results has been subjected to Tetrahedron Asymmetry.
Enantioselective Methodology Development of Chiral EpoxidesSymmetrical cyclopentane oxides were some of the first substrates to be successfully transformed into chiral products using chiralbases, but there is still uncertainty as the role of the remote oxygen, which to date has always been required for a successful reaction. My group are evaluating the range of substrates A-H using a variety of bases, with and without chelating effects. In addition, novel 6,5-systems (G-H) are also being investigated and a paper summarising these results has been subjected to Tetrahedron Asymmetry.
Synthesis of novel platelet – aggregatory inhibitors and total synthesis of Methyl BrevolincarboxylateThe Isocoumarine Methyl Brevifolincarboxylate (J) isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. leaves has shown to be a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation comparable to adenosine. It is the intention to make analogues of J with moieties affixed to the ester portion and aromatic ring proportion via palladium catalysed intramolecular palladium catalysed aryl halide carbonylation.
Synthetic Strategies Towards The Development of CMP-KDO Synthetase Inhibitors
Synthetic strategies are underway to synthesize potential antimicrobial agents relating to the key constituent of gram –ve bacterial cell walls, 2β-deoxy-KDO (1), which is a key component for the construction of bacterial cell walls that maintain their structural and chemical integrity to the microbial environment (compared to L-glycero-D-manno-heptose). Deficient cell wall formation might result in a bacterial cell more susceptible to their natural environment.
Synthetic strategies are underway to synthesize potential antimicrobial agents relating to the key constituent of gram –ve bacterial cell walls, 2β-deoxy-KDO (1), which is a key component for the construction of bacterial cell walls that maintain their structural and chemical integrity to the microbial environment (compared to L-glycero-D-manno-heptose). Deficient cell wall formation might result in a bacterial cell more susceptible to their natural environment.
Preparation and Isolation of Isotoped Enriched Glycoaminoglycans
My third area of research is to examine strategies for the incorporation of isotopic inorganic material into the polysaccharide Gylcoaminoglycan component of crustaceans which can be isolated and characterized. Glycosaminoglycans are large molecules that fill in the space between the cells of mammals forming for example joints and skin. In the body they have many different functions despite having similar chemical structures. My work concerns the production (through exposure of isotope enriched media) and degradation of chondroitin (which lubricates knee joints for example) and then spectroscopic analysis of this GAG using isotope enriched NMR spectroscopy.
My third area of research is to examine strategies for the incorporation of isotopic inorganic material into the polysaccharide Gylcoaminoglycan component of crustaceans which can be isolated and characterized. Glycosaminoglycans are large molecules that fill in the space between the cells of mammals forming for example joints and skin. In the body they have many different functions despite having similar chemical structures. My work concerns the production (through exposure of isotope enriched media) and degradation of chondroitin (which lubricates knee joints for example) and then spectroscopic analysis of this GAG using isotope enriched NMR spectroscopy.
