Dr. Kyle Biegasiewicz, Arizona State University
March 18, 2021

The chemical synthesis of structurally and stereochemically complex molecules is a focal point of the pharmaceutical, agriculture and materials industries. In an effort to optimize the desired parameters affiliated with their synthesis (step, atom, redox economies) we rely heavily upon the discovery of catalysts that can accomplish early and late-stage bond construction under mild conditions and with broad functional group tolerance. Moreover, a premium is placed on the development of sustainable catalysts that can accomplish these goals with little to no waste generation. This talk features a combination of chemical and enzymatic strategies for achieving catalytic C-C bond formation. It divides into three segments: 1) the development of an organocatalytic hydroxymethylation protocol and its application in the total synthesis of the apoptosis inducer, (-)-rasfonin, 2) photoexcitation of flavoenzymes for stereoselective C-C bond formation, and 3) the development of a terpene cyclase using oxyanion hole catalysis in hydrolases.

 
 
To view Dr. Biegasiewicz’s webinar, please click on the link below:
Chemical and Enzymatic Strategies for Complex Molecule Synthesis