Natural products are important resources for discovering new chemical therapeutics and small-molecule probes for studying biological systems. They also provide valuable platforms for developing new methods for chemical synthesis. We seek to refine the synthetic tools and understand the fundamental principles that govern chemical transformations through synthesis of complex natural products. As many natural products can only be obtained from the nature in limited quantities, evaluation of their biological and clinical significance is difficult. Synthetic chemistry not only offers an important solution to the re-supply issue, but also allows modifications of these natural products for new or improved biological functions.
The focus of our research group is the total synthesis of natural products. We aim to develop new synthetic strategies and methodologies to address unsolved synthetic problems or to improve the efficiency of existing approaches. We are most interested in the synthesis of structurally complex natural products with unique skeletons. Specific synthetic targets include oroidin family alkaloids, polycylic triterpenoids, halogenated steroids, and diazobenzofluorenes. Another direction of our research program is the development of new probes for studying signal transduction pathways and examination of their therapeutic values through collaborations at UT Southwestern.
Publications:
"Nickel-Catalyzed Carbonylative Negishi Cross-Coupling Reactions" Wang, Q.; Chen, C. Tetrahedron Lett. 2008, 49, 2916−2921. [PDF] (Synfacts highlight)
"An Approach to the Core Skeleton of Lancifodilactone F" Wang, Q.; Chen, C. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 1223−1226. [PDF] (supporting info)
"Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Functionalization of Imidazolinone: Synthesis of Dibromophakellstatin" Lu, J.; Tan, X.; Chen, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7768−7769. [PDF] (Addition) (supporting info)
"Regiocontrol in Manganese(III)-Mediated Oxidative Heterobicyclizations: Access to the Core Skeletons of Oroidin Dimers." Tan, X.; Chen, C. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 4345−4348. [PDF] (supporting info)
"Convergent Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Small-Molecule Hybrids." Chen, C.; Li, X.; Neumann, C. S.; Lo, M. M.-C.; Schreiber, S. L. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 2249−2252. [PDF] (supporting info)
"Label-free Detection of Small-molecule–Protein Interactions by Using Nanowire Nanosensors." Wang, W. U.; Chen, C.; Lin, K.-h.; Fang, Y.; Lieber, C. M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2005, 102, 3208−3212. [PDF]
"Catalytic Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides. Development of a Versatile Stepwise, Three-Component Reaction for Diversity-Oriented Synthesis." Chen, C.; Li, X.; Schreiber, S. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 10174−10175. [PDF] (supporting info)
"Abnormal and Regioselective Wacker Oxidation of 1,5-Diene." Ho, T.-L.; Chang, M.; Chen, C. Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 6955−6957. [PDF]
"Synthesis of (+)-CP-263,114." Chen, C.; Layton, M. E.; Sheehan, S. M.; Shair, M. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 7424−7425. [PDF] (supporting info)
"Chelation-Assisted Regioselective C−O Bond Cleavage Reactions of Acetals by Grignard Reagents. A General Procedure for the Regioselective Synthesis of Protected Polyols Having One Free Hydroxy Group." Cheng, W.-L.; Shaw, Y.-J.; Yeh, S.-M.; Kanakamma, P. P.; Chen, Y.-H.; Chen, C.; Shieu, J.-C.; Yiin, S.-J.; Lee, G.-H.; Wang, Y.; Luh, T.-Y. J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 532−539. [PDF]
"Stereospecific Synthesis of the CP-263,114 Core Structure." Chen, C.; Layton, M. E.; Shair, M. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 10784−10785. [PDF] (supporting info)
