Our research program is focused on the development of new synthetic methods and their application toward the synthesis of biologically active compounds, particularly nitrogen heterocycles and alkaloid natural products. Recent total syntheses from the group include kitastatin, antimycin, hydrazidomycin, martinelline, luotonin A and tetrahydrolipstatin. We are interested in several different synthetic methods, including boron chemistry, iminium ions, cycloadditions, sigmatropic rearrangements, electrocyclizations and metal catalyzed reactions (Cu, Pd, Rh and Ln).
We are interested in syntheses that are conducted in both a conventional manner, as in approaches toward natural product targets, as well as using parallel solution-phase, polymer-supported methods and microwave accelerated reactions. More recently we have embarked upon collaborative chemical biology projects in the areas of cancer and diabetes.
The diversity of projects and students is an important part of the group dynamic, allowing students to experience a range of different chemistries. We hold two group meetings per week: one on current literature, and research or topics and the other meeting on either a problem set or retrosynthetic analysis. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to work independently and test out their own ideas. If you are interested in joining the group or have questions, please contact Prof. Batey directly.