Ph.D, Nottingham Natural product synthesis. Alkaloids, antibiotics, lignans, mycotoxins, shikimic acids, steroids. New synthetic methods and strategies. Isobenzofurans in organic synthesis.
Organic synthesis offers the student opportunities for both creativity and utility.
In our laboratory we attempt to devise and implement new pathways to complex natural products, and to explore the scope and limitations of such discoveries. Many synthetic intermediate are new compounds and pharmaceutical companies are often interested in screening such materials for physiological activity. Organic Synthesis is thus more than a creative academic exercise and graduates with experience in organic synthesis are often sought after by the pharmaceutical industry. Students from Wilfrid Laurier University will undertake their research in my laboratory at the University of Waterloo. Quinonoid Natural Products Natural products like xestoquinone and demethoxy viridin are interesting synthetic targets.