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The group’s activities continue to be focused on the development of new synthetic strategies and methodologies as well as the application of these in the total synthesis of biologically active natural products and certain analogues. Vinblastine (a binary indole-indoline alkaloid used in the treatment of early childhood leukaemia and bladder cancer), quinine (the famous anti-malarial alkaloid), various Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (e.g. lycorine, galanthamine and nobistiline A) and the potent new antibiotic platencin represent key targets and have inspired a considerable number of methodological studies. Australian industry has funded a significant portion of our work, while a new collaboration has just started with the German-based company BASF and is focused on developing novel agrochemicals based on marine natural products found in the cooler parts of the Southern Hemisphere oceans.
Martin Banwell is the Director of the Research School of Chemistry.
Technical |
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Postdoctoral Fellows |
Dr
Alison Findlay
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PhD Candidates |
Mr
Alexander Bissember
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MPhil Students |
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Honours Students |
The title compounds, which can be obtained by enantioselective microbial oxidation of the corresponding arene or through manipulation of the shikimic acid biosynthetic pathway, continue to serve as important starting materials for the preparation of a structurally diverse array of poly-oxygenated natural products and related structures.
The electrocyclic ring-opening of ring-fused gem-dibromo- and gem-dichloro-cyclopropanes continues to be employed in a wide variety of contexts, with one especially notable activity being focused on the construction of the polycyclic frameworks associated with a range of alkaloids.