The mission of the Synthesis Core
is to:
(1) be a resource for Center principal investigators and
their colleagues to validate their novel chemical methodologies,
(2) be a repository for reagents and compound sets produced within
the greater Center, and
(3) be a broker of Center reagents and compounds in the greater
biomedical research community.
Personnel
The Director of the Synthesis Core is Dr.
Conrad Santini. Dr. Santini received his Ph.D. in synthetic organic
chemistry with Prof. Stuart L. Schreiber at Yale University in 1985. Dr. Santini
joined the pharmaceutical company Pfizer in 1985 as a medicinal chemist. At
Pfizer he worked on diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and osteoporosis before
moving to Merck Research Laboratories in 1988 to join the department of process
research. He worked in the pilot plant processes for angiotensin II inhibitors.
He moved into the medical chemistry department in 1991, working on diabetes,
cholesterol lowering and rheumatology. Dr. Santini joined the KU CMLD in July of 2009.
Click
here to send Dr. Santini an email.
Mr.
David Hill is a 2007 graduate of the University of Kansas
where he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology.
He is currently working as a Lab Manager after serving as a
Research Assistant/Library Synthesis Specialist for the Core B, where he served in
a similar capacity, part-time, as an undergraduate. David specializes
in the operation of laboratory instrumentation. His automation
expertise includes the Chemspeed SLT100 Automated Synthesizer,
for which he is a Center super-user. David is also an expert user
for a variety of instrumentation from the MT AutoChem Medicinal
Chemistry Toolbox: MiniBlock, MiniMapper, ALLEXis, and Balance
Automator. In addition to validating new chemical methodologies
and producing compound libraries, David contributes to compound
management, from data-management through compound submission to
Center Biological Outreach Partners. In his spare time, David
is studying toward a second degree, in Chemistry, from the University
of Kansas.
Dr. Erik Fenster is a research associate in the Synthesis Core. Dr. Erik Fenster received an M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Professor Lawrence Weiler where he worked on conformationally controlled reactions of macrocycles. He continued graduate studies at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Professor G. Dake where he received a Ph.D. in 2006 for work relating to vinyl-alkyl based transition metal catalyzed coupling reactions and performed work towards a generalized synthetic approach towards the fusicoccane diterpenoids. Dr. Fenster completed post-doctoral research with Professor Jeffrey Aubé for work which involved a methodological survey of the electrophilicity of bicyclic iminium ethers and applied their use in the parallel library synthesis of 1,4-diazepin-5-ones as -turn peptidomimetics in addition to research towards the synthesis of haouamina A. Dr. Fenster joined the KU CMLD in September of 2009 as a research associate in Core B where he performs work on the parallel synthesis of various biologically relevant compounds.
Dr. Chan Woo Huh is from South Korea. He received his B.S and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. He began his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan under the supervision of Prof. William R. Roush. Later, he moved to the Scripps Research Institute-Florida with Prof. Roush and received his Ph.D. degree in 2008. His research at the SRI-Florida focused on the syntheses of derivatives of the natural product acetogenin using asymmetric [3+2] annulation methodology. He joined the Aubé group/KU-CMLD in June 2008 as a postdoctoral researcher in Core B. He carries out research on the intramolecular azido-Schmidt reactions of 3-azidoaldehydes and in the design and construction of combinatorial libraries in the kappa opioid agonist area as well as in other biologically interesting molecular targets.
Dr. Thomas Painter is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate, completing an internship in resin and coatings research at the Valspar Corporation in 2002 and receiving a BS degree in chemistry in 2003. He then conducted research on rhodium(I)-catalyzed carbocyclization and cyclocarbonylation reactions under the direction of Prof. Kay M. Brummond, also at the University of Pittsburgh, obtaining a Ph. D. in chemistry in 2009. Tom joined the KU-CMLD in May 2009 as a postdoctoral researcher under Prof. Jeffrey Aube. His current focus is on parallel synthesis development for PI submitted methodologies and microwave flow synthesis, among other highly collaborative projects both inside and outside of the Synthesis Core.
Dr. Paul D. Thornton hails from New Brunswick,
Canada. He attended the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton where he received
a B.Sc. (Hon.) in chemistry-biology. While at UNB he spent two summers working with Dr.
Ghislain Deslongchamps and Dr. David MaGee. His honours project examined stereoselective
[4+3] cycloadditions of auxiliary bound oxyallyl cations. He went on to complete a
Ph.D. in organic chemistry under the direction of Dr. Jean Burnell at Dalhousie
University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His Ph.D. research focused on the use of the
Pauson-Khand reaction in synthetic routes toward the natural products aquariolide A
and daphnilongeranin B. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher
working in the Synthesis Core of the KU-CMLD. Among his projects are parallel
synthesis using indole-aryne cycloadditions and generation and use of organic
di-azides using flow microwave technology.
Facilities
The CMLD laboratories, which incorporate a mix of traditional synthesis space (eleven 8 ft. hoods and associated benches, offices, etc.) and flexible work space appropriate for library synthesis and purification activities, are fully occupied by a combination of permanent staff as well as postdoctoral associates assigned to specific CMLD projects.
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| CMLD
Core staff members meet in their new office in the Structural
Biology Center. |
The Synthesis Core provides expertise and instruments
for performing solution- and solid-phase chemistry and compound
management. The major equipment located in the Synthesis Core,
which is available to all Center participants, includes:
(1) the Vapourtec R series Flow Chemistry system
(2) the Chemspeed Accelerator SLT 100
for automated chemical synthesis
(3) the MT Autochem MiniBlock, MiniBlock
XT, MiniBlock XT Plus, Radley’s Greenhouse, IRORI Kan system,
and Argonaut Quest 205 and 210 Synthesizers for serial/parallel/semi-automated/manual
solution- and solid-phase synthesis
(4) the Biotage Emrys Optimizer for serial microwave-assisted
synthesis
(5) the Gilson 215 SPE, Teledyne ISCO CombiFlash
Companion and Biotage Horizon purification systems
(6) the Genevac EZ-2 Plus and Genevac DD-4
for parallel solvent evaporation
(7) the VirTis AdVantage Freeze Dryer
for batch freeze drying
(8) the MT AutoChem ALLEXis for automated
liquid-liquid extraction
(9) the MT AutoChem MiniMapper for automated
liquid-handling
(10) the Innovative Technology System One
Glovebox
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The new Vapourtec R series Flow Chemistry system is outfitted with 4 total pump channels, an autosampler/fraction collector and the first ever integral touch screen interface for the Flow Commander software. This flow chemistry system is an innovative new platform permitting chemists to rapidly develop flow synthesis techniques and achieve a high level of productivity. With a novel new microreactor design plus unique flow and temperature control technologies, it offers users the precision that is essential for effective reaction optimization and rapid scale-up. |
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The Chemspeed Accelerator SLT100 performs fully-automated liquid- and solid-handling, reaction agitation/heating/cooling, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and solvent evaporation. For additional information, please visit www.chemspeed.com/index.php
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Dr. Kelin Li employs the MiniBlock for solution-phase synthesis using solid-phase reagents and scavengers to facilitate the synthesis of libraries of dihydrocoumarin and coumarin compounds. For additional information, please visit www.mt.com/autochem
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| Flash Chromatography: ISCO CombiFlash Companion | |
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Dr. Partha Ghosh uses the CombiFlash Companion flash chromatography system to purify library building blocks. For additional information, please visit www.isco.com
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Ms. Julica Nöth uses the Genevac EZ-2 Plus to remove solvent from compounds in vials destined for Center biological outreach partners. For additional information, please visit www.genevac.com
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| Batch Freeze Drying: VirTis AdVantage Freeze Dryer | |
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Dr. Thomas Coombs uses the VirTis AdVantage Freeze Dryer to prepare his compound samples for submission to biological partners. For additional information, please visit http://www.virtis.com
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| Liquid-Liquid Extraction: MT AutoChem ALLEXis | |
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Dr. Erik Fenster uses the MT AutoChem ALLEXis to perform automated liquid-liquid extractions. For additional information, please visit www.mt.com/autochem
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Dr. Thomas Coombs assists Ms. Tatiana Odintsova as they program the MT Autochem MiniMapper to perform liquid-handling for the MiniBlock XT. For additional information, please visit www.mt.com/autochem
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| Environment Control: Innovative Technology System One Glovebox | |
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Dr. Kelin Li uses the Innovative Technology System One Glovebox to weigh an air-sensitive reaction catalyst. For additional information, please visit http://www.innovativet.com/glove-box-systems.htm
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