The search for new ways to assemble molecules continues to be an important driver for organic synthesis. The biological activity and exquisite structural diversity of many natural products stimulates invention by challenging today’s synthetic methodology. However, preparing such materials from small and commercially available building blocks inevitably involves more than one synthetic step. For most modern drugs and other complex molecules, it is not uncommon for syntheses to require at least 10 steps, and sometimes many more.
In order to make molecules more efficiently and economically, our group has developed and used solid-supported reagents in a multi-step fashion without the use of conventional work-up procedures. Now we have extended these concepts to make use of advanced scavenging agents and catch-and-release techniques, and combined these with the use of continuous flow processing to create even greater opportunities for organic synthesis.
The lecture will be suitable for a general audience and people with an interest in biology and chemistry. Professor Ley will also deliver the de la Mare Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 11 May, on the topic “Adventures in Natural Product Synthesis”, for those interested in chemistry, natural product synthesis and drug discovery.
More information can be found here