The goals of my research are the discovery and application of new chemical reactions and the total synthesis of complex molecules.
The combined effect of three recent developments has created an enormous challenge and a fantastic opportunity for synthetic chemistry. First, the sequencing of the human genome has revealed a huge number of genes associated with human diseases, and the corresponding proteins represent potential drug targets. Second, the development of high-throughput screening methods has given scientists the ability to evaluate large collections of small molecules with stunning speed and accuracy. Finally, solid phase synthesis has been revolutionized by new techniques and equipment such that it is now possible to synthesize large libraries of defined molecules in usable quantities. Taken together, the situation facing pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers alike is that we have a platform to access many molecules, and means to test their effect on specific, relevant cellular targets. The great challenge now facing chemistry and, I believe, all of biomedical science, is the need for chemical reactions and protocols that are reliable, predictable and efficient. It is only through the development of such reactions that we can create the molecular diversity required to combat human diseases. Currently, only a limited number of reactions proceed selectively and quantitatively with a broad range of substrates. Thus the preparation of new compounds continues to be one on the slowest steps in drug discovery.
My research program seeks to address the need for new, powerful and general chemical reactions. We are interested in all areas of reaction development, including discovery, application and mechanistic study. Our research is focused on two primary areas of inquiry: the discovery of new reactions and target-oriented synthesis. In the context of reaction discovery, we are studying problems in organometallics, asymmetric catalysis and the chemistry of isonitriles. Current research is directed toward the discovery of a catalytic system for enolate alkylation and the development of cycloadditions for the enantioselective synthesis of five-membered rings. Simultaneously, synthetic studies on natural products such as the irritant resiniferatoxin and the neuritogenic lactone littoralisone are guided by an interest in novel approaches to polycyclic skeletons. We anticipate that the combination of these efforts will greatly expand the power of organic chemistry and enable the rapid and efficient synthesis of valuable complex molecules.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Discovery and application of new chemical reactions. Total synthesis of complex molecules.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Qi, X.; Ready, J. M, "-Promoted Cycloaddition of Diazocarbonyl Compounds and Acetylides" Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 46:3242-3244, 2007
Zhang, D. H.; Ready, J. M., "Iron-Catalyzed Carbometalation of Propargylic and Homopropargylic Alcohols" J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128:15050-15051, 2006
Bian, J.; Wingerden, M. V.; Ready, J. M., ""Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)- and (-) -Nigellamine A2"" J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128:7428-7429, 2006
Zhang, D. H.; Ready, J. M., ""Tandem Carbocupration/Oxygenation of Terminal Alkynes"" Org. Lett., 7:5681-5683, 2005
Malosh, C. F.; Ready, J. M., ""Catalytic Cross-Coupling of Alkylzinc Halides with alpha-Chloroketones"" J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126:10240-10241, 2004
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