Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The proposed research has as its overarching aim the provision of synthetic solutions to problems of molecular complexity by developing new reactions using molecular rearrangements and the release of ring strain as key design elements. The approach to these problems will be twofold: i) we will target complex natural products with important biological properties, and ii) we will develop new complexity generating reactions and demonstrate their utility in complex molecule synthesis. Specifically, we will develop a synthesis of cortistatin A, an important natural product and potential lead for the development of anticancer-therapeutics. To carry out this synthesis, a new cascade reaction has been designed to deal with some of the central structural issues present in the target compound. Successful completion of this work will allow biological evaluation for anti-angiogenic activity (in collaboration with Professor Tara Haas of York University). In addition, we are interested in developing new complexity generating reactions that make use of sequential molecular rearrangements. These reactions will provide access to complex polycyclic and acyclic compounds that have wide application in synthesis.