This thesis describes the synthesis of sulfobetaines having the general structure $\rm RN\sp{+}(CH\sb3)\sb2(CH\sb2)\sb{x}SO\sb{3\sp{-}}$ as novel inhibitors of squalene synthase. Squalene synthase reductively couples two molecules of farnesyl...
This thesis describes the synthetic study of two biologically related natural products: porphobilinogen (PBG) and cobyric acid. PBG is the key intermediate in the biosynthesis of all naturally occurring tetrapyrrolic 'pigments of life', including...
A new synthetic approach to both pyrrolo[2,3- b]indoles and pyrrolo[3,4- b]indoles by the reaction of 3-nitro-1-(substituted)indoles with functionalized isocyanides is presented. The reaction between 3-nitro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)indole (185) and ethyl...
Infections by pathogenenic microbes are an increasing problem due to a lack of universal vaccines and growing resistance to current antibiotics. The constant battle for researchers in the fight against pathogens is to design new and improved drugs...
Macrocyclic tetrapyrroles are essential to life. In nature, they play important roles in living organisms, such as oxygen transportation and photosynthesis. Pentynoic acids are versatile precursors for preparing pyrrolines and higher homologues....
NAD (Coenzyme) -- Metabolism. Nicotinamide -- Mechanism of action. Genetic regulation. Nicotinamide-beta-riboside.
NAD+ is an essential co-enzyme for hydride transfer enzymes and a consumed substrate of multiple signaling enzymes including the sirtuins, a family of protein lysine deacetylases shown to regulate longevity in a wide array of organisms. We have...
Chapter 1: Munchnones and mesoionic heterocycles The reactivity, regioselectivity, and synthetic applications of munchnones (1,3-oxazolium-5-olates) is a common theme which runs through Chapters 2-5. The definition, structure, and reactivity of...
Purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) can dominate the nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur cycles in anoxic ecosystems via their anoxygenic photosynthetic metabolisms and are the only producers of the carotenoid, okenone, a biomarker targeted for photic zone...
As methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) hospitalizations keep increasing, the understanding of the characteristics that make one isolate more successful over another is paramount. Strain variations among Staphylococcus aureus observed...
A series of conformationally restricted bis(9-amino-acridine) derivatives were designed, synthesized, and then evaluated for their chemical and biological behavior. The novel compounds were prepared by treating selected diamines with a...
The great strength of the C-F bond has enabled fluorocarbons to find many industrial and domestic applications, and makes C-F activation a chemical and technical challenge akin to that of C-H bond activation in hydrocarbons. In our mission to...
Chapter 1: The dimethylation of the C2-symmetric Pt-phosphido complex Pt((R,R)-Me-DuPhos)(IsPCH2PIs) (Is = 2,4,6-(iPr)3C6H2) to yield rac- and meso- [Pt((R,R)-Me-DuPhos)(IsMePCH2PMeIs)][OTf]2 represents an interesting case of the Horeau principle...
I. (3 + 2) Cycloaddition Reactions of Oxyallyl Cationic Intermediates with Indoles Cyclopenta- and cyclohexa[b]indolines are ubiquitous molecular skeletons in natural products and pharmaceutical agents. We have developed (3 + 2) cycloaddition...
We study motion planning problems, finding trajectories that connect two configurations of a system, from two different perspectives: optimality and survivability. For the problem of finding optimal trajectories, we provide a model in which the...