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Domino reactions are spectacular events in which many bonds are made and broken in a single step. The reactions hold much promise for achieving more efficient syntheses - a pressing need in times of increasing production costs and the importance of protecting the environment by reducing waste. Our research program involves the design and implementation of sequences of cycloaddition reactions, free radical reactions and transition metal-mediated reactions to prepare polycyclic molecules with important biological properties. The program also targets new ways to achieve molecular recognition, complexation and catalysis. Overall, the primary goal is to synthesise such complex molecules in a practical manner.
Michael Sherburn received both his BSc and PhD degrees from The University of Nottingham.
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The Diels–Alder reaction is one of the most powerful and commonly used reactions in synthetic organic chemistry.
More about A Deeper Understanding of the Most Important Organic Reaction
Lignans, like podophyllotoxin, have cancer-fighting properties and are used in chemotherapy. An efficient and highly modular approach for the synthesis of lignan natural products has been developed, culminating in several total syntheses, including that of podophyllotoxin.
More about Efficient Total Synthesis of Medicinally-Important Natural Products
Chemists are often inspired by nature’s chemical structures to develop syntheses. Sometimes, structures not produced naturally initiate the development of exciting new methods, concepts and principles.
Research in this area is concerned with the design and synthesis of our “superbowl” host molecules for molecular recognition, complexation and catalysis.