Current natural product (NP) research is limited by its reliance on bioassay-guided fractionation to identify bioactive compounds in mixtures. Computational approaches may improve NP research by correlating mass spectra (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (NMR) of bioactive mixtures to their bioactivity patterns. In this study, I use artificial neural...
Since the discovery of molecular chirality in 1848, this notion has had a substantial impact on medicine, biology, and chemistry. Extensive effort has been directed towards the construction of chiral molecules that contain sp³ hybridized stereogenic centers. In contrast, less effort has been dedicated to molecules that are chiral by...
This dissertation is separated into two parts according to the two major distinct research projects. In Part I, the full account of synthetic studies toward C10-functionalized lycopodium alkaloids is described. In Part II, the detailed discussion on the exploration of the Pummerer cyclization methodology and its application to the total...
Aminal radical intermediates were generated by the method of radical translocation and reacted in C-C bond forming reactions with electronically deficient alkenes (Schiedler et al. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 6092). Aminal radical intermediates can participate in inter- and intra-molecular reactions using both Bu3SnH and (TMS)₃SiH as hydride donors. Carbon–carbon bonds...
Organic compounds which contain one or more nitrogen atoms are especially important as they are disproportionately represented among biologically active molecules. As a result, significant effort has been focused on the development of methods for the synthesis of nitrogenous molecules. We identified the aminal as an under-explored functional group. Despite...
More than 30 members of the diverse amphidinolide family of biologically active macrolides have been isolated over last three decades. From this family, amphidinolides C and F stand among the most complex and densely functionalized affiliates. Recently, we have accomplished the first total synthesis of amphidinolide F. The all-carbon framework...
Structure-property relationships have always underpinned the field of solid state chemistry; dependable structural descriptions are integral to understanding and controlling the physical properties of inorganic compounds old and new. While a handful of crystal structures are celebrated for their versatility, flexibility, and functionality, the existence of more exotic structures is...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of environmental contaminants consisting of fused benzene rings. Parent-PAHs, methylated-PAHs (MPAHs), and PAHs with molecular weight of 302 a.m.u (MW302-PAHs) are considered as unsubstituted-PAHs. These unsubstituted-PAHs undergo transformation reactions resulting in the formation of PAH-transformation products (PAH-TPs), or substituted-PAHs, including nitrated-, oxygenated-, and...
Naturally occurring assemblies, such as DNA and proteins, utilize intermolecular forces (i.e H-bonding and van der Waals) to assemble. Utilizing these electrostatic interactions has only just started in the past five decades to be a tool used in synthetic chemistry in what is known as supramolecular chemistry. Supramolecular chemistry has...
Frontier research of non-aqueous actinide clusters is discussed. Since the inception of the uranyl peroxide clusters over the last decade, they have only been synthesized and characterized as solid crystals and in aqueous solution. This thesis provides thorough characterization of aqueous uranyl clusters and the first demonstration of uranyl cluster...