Prof. '81-'89, Stanford Univ. My research program has a number of components. Synthesis is one interest area in addition to being an important tool in most of our work. We have used the rhodium-mediated decomposition of diazocompounds in the synthesis of complex heterocyclic systems and are applying this methodology toward targets such as aflatoxin.
Mechanistic studies using kinetics are also underway.
My research group also works in the field of chemical biology. We proposed the currently-accepted mechanism for ethylene biosynthesis that is being further tested in our lab. The biosynthesis of ethylene is important because of the role it plays in the regulation of important plant physiological processes such as ripening. Our mechanistic studies on the ethylene-forming enzyme use electrospray mass spectrometry, among other techniques. We also recently began a program to understand the action of ethylene at its receptor.