A Predictive Model for Thiol Reactivity of N-Heteroaryl α-Methylene−γ-Lactams─A Medicinally Relevant Covalent Reactive Group Herein, we present a systematic study on the effects of electronically diverse heteroarenes on the rate of glutathione (GSH) addition to novel N-heteroaryl α-methylene−γ-lactam covalent reactive group...

We are thrilled to share our collaborative work demonstrating that electronically diverse and medicinally relevant heteroaryl groups can be used as handles for systematically tuning the thiol reactivity of covalent reactive groups.@pittchemistry.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

We #standupforscience in Pittsburgh, PA! @pittchemistry.bsky.social

Super excited to have Dr. Sophie Shevick joining our department as the newest member of our faculty! Welcome Sophie! @pittchemistry.bsky.social

Good news–my favorite collaborator has just graduated from Pitt. Bad news–my favorite collaborator has just graduated. Congratulations Luke! I wish you much continued success! @pengliu_group @Pitt_Chemistry

Congratulations Fatemeh! Conferred Pitt PhD and JACS publication in 24 hours! Well deserved!

Stereo-Differentiating Asymmetric Rh(I)-Catalyzed Pauson–Khand Reaction: A DFT-Informed Approach to Thapsigargin Stereoisomers We report a stereo-differentiating dynamic kinetic asymmetric Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson–Khand reaction, which provides access to an array of thapsigargin stereoisomers. Using catalyst-control, a consistent stereochemical outcome is achieved at C2─for both matched and mismatched cases─regardless of the allene-yne C8 stereochemistry. The stereochemical configuration for all stereoisomers was assigned by comparing experimental vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and 13C NMR to DFT-computed spectra. DFT calculations of the transition-state structures corroborate experimentally observed stereoselectivity and identify key stabilizing and destabilizing interactions between the chiral ligand and allene-yne PKR substrates. The robust nature of our catalyst-ligand system places the total synthesis of thapsigargin and its stereoisomeric analogues within reach.

Super excited to share our work on the Stereo-Differentiating Asymmetric Rh(I)-Catalyzed Pauson–Khand Reaction: A DFT-Informed Approach to Thapsigargin Stereoisomers | Journal of the American Chemical Society pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Enjoying Bluesky with @joseph-kent.bsky.social in Pontresina Switzerland!

Celebrating Yifan’s successful PhD defense and his starting as a Process Chemist at Wilmington Pharmtech! We already miss you.