The Lopchuk lab @ Moffitt Cancer Center
Our research program is grounded in synthetic organic chemistry with a specific focus on the development of new reactions, the design of new reagents, and the total synthesis of natural products with anti-cancer activity. We also have a variety of medicinal chemistry collaborations with other groups at Moffitt. Take a look at the different types of research we have ongoing and some of our recent publications. If you are interested in joining the group, see what positions we have available.
NEWS!
For the latest group news, check Twitter/X and LinkedIn.
2/22/22 – Moffitt Team Science Alert! Our report with the Schonbrunn and Chen labs detailing the discovery of dual TAF1-ATR inhibitors and structural changes of the TAF1 tandem bromodomain has now appeared in J. Med. Chem. Much more to come with this collaboration!
2/1/22 – The final version of our paper on the rapid, stereospecific installation of sulfoximines and related S(VI) groups has now appeared in Nat. Synth. In addition to an extensive scope (85 examples), multiple diversity- and target-oriented syntheses of pharmaceuticals are included. Congratulations to Zac and the team!
12/1/21 – Our annual review of the synthesis and reactivity of pyrroles, indoles, and related heterocycles in Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 33 is now available. Congrats Khalilia and Kyle!
11/9/21 – The final version of our paper on the transition metal-free photodecarboxylative amination of redox-active esters with diazirines has now appeared in Org. Lett. Congratulations to Vishala and the team!
9/22/21 – Our new paper on the transition metal-free photodecarboxylative amination of redox-active esters with diazirines is now available on ChemRxiv. It includes 40 examples and builds upon our diazirine amination toolkit that is now expanded to include photoredox approaches. Congratulations to Vishala on her first manuscript!
6/3/21 – Our new manuscript on the rapid installation of sulfoximines and other sulfonimidoyl groups is now available on ChemRxiv. 80 examples and four synthetic applications for the modular, enantiospecific synthesis of ceralasertib and other pharmaceuticals. Congratulations to Zac and Thomas on their terrific work!
5/21/21 – Congrats to Shun and Zac on their poster and lecture presentation awards at the inaugural "Synthposium by the Sea"! It was a terrific event and great to see all the synthetic organic research in the State of Florida.
3/10/21 – Zac and Chuan's manuscript on the addition of phosphonates to heterocycles has been published in Arkivoc. We submitted this in support of the issue commemorating Prof. Peter Jacobi's retirement from Dartmouth College. Congratulations to the team!
3/5/21 – Congratulations to Dr. Preeti Chandrachud who has accepted a position at Sanford Burnham in La Jolla. Best of luck in your next adventure!
1/5/21 – Want to start off the new year with some heterocyclic chemistry? Our annual review of the synthesis and reactivity of pyrroles, indoles, and related heterocycles in Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 32 is now available. Great work by Kyle, Khalilia, and William!
12/17/20 – Preeti's manuscript, "Decarboxylative Amination: Diazirines as Single and Double Electrophilic Nitrogen Transfer Reagents", has been accepted in the J. Am. Chem. Soc. We added more examples and synthetic applications compared to the ChemRxiv version. Take a look!
9/9/20 – Our new manuscript on the decarboxylative amination of redox-active esters with diazirines is now available on ChemRxiv. A rapid method for the synthesis of amines, hydrazines, and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Congratulations to Preeti!
8/31/20 – We welcome three new graduate students to the group from the USF Department of Chemistry: Qingyu Xing, Shun Teng, and Chuan Shan. Qingyu is working on the total synthesis of complex natural products, while Shun and Chuan are developing new methodologies for C–C and C–S bond formation.
4/2/20 – Congratulations to Dr. Thomas Scattolin who has accepted a position as a Research Scientist in Process Chemistry at Mirati Therapeutics!
10/25/19 – Our annual review of the synthesis and reactivity of pyrroles, indoles, and related heterocycles in Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 31 is now available.
10/15/19 – Four new graduate students from the USF Department of Chemistry have joined the group. Welcome to Khalilia Tillett, Kyle Pedretty, Brooke Vitale, and William Tsuei! Khalilia, Kyle, and Brooke will be working on various methodology projects, while William will be focused on the total synthesis of complex natural products.
8/5/19 – A new postdoctoral fellow has joined the group! Welcome to Zac Shultz, who received his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida while working in the group of Prof. James Leahy. Zac will be developing small molecule inhibitors via structure-based drug design.
5/31/19 – Our book chapter reviewing the isolation, biological activity, and synthesis of imide-containing natural products is now available.
3/18/19 – A new postdoctoral fellow has joined the group! Welcome to Wen Che, who received his Ph.D. from Nankai University, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-organic Chemistry while working in the group of Prof. Qi-Lin Zhou. Wen will be developing scalable syntheses of complex withanolide natural products.
1/10/19 – A new graduate student has joined the group! Welcome to Vishala Maharaj, who received her B.S. from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. After gaining experence in the synthesis of fused indoles in the lab of Prof. Jeanese Badenock, Vishala will be working on the development and application of new strained amination regents.
11/2/18 – A new postdoctoral fellow has joined the group! Welcome to Thomas Scattolin, who received his Ph.D. from RWTH Aachen University while working in the group of Prof. Franziska Schoenebeck.
11/1/18 – Our annual review of the synthesis and reactivity of pyrroles, indoles, and related heterocycles in Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 30 is now available.
9/1/18 – Now Recruiting! We are currently accepting graduate students from the Department of Chemistry @ USF. Students will receive a thorough training in synthetic organic chemistry (methodology and/or total synthesis) with the option of learning about medicinal chemistry, rational drug design, and translational research in cancer drug discovery.
4/24/18 – Our new method for the gram-scale synthesis of 3-haloazetidines via strain-release chemistry has been published. Congrats Youngran!
9/18/17 – Now Recruiting! We are currently accepting graduate students from the Department of Chemistry @ USF. Students will receive a thorough training in synthetic organic chemistry (methodology and/or total synthesis) with the option of learning about medicinal chemistry, rational drug design, and translational research in cancer drug discovery.
9/12/17 – Our annual review of the synthesis and reactivity of pyrroles, indoles, and related heterocycles in Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 29 is now available. Work on next year's contribution is already underway!
9/5/17 – Interested in Strain-Release Functionalization? Three new e-EROS articles are now available on [1.1.1]propellane, 1-aza[1.1.0]bicyclobutane, and 1-((3,5-difluorophenyl)sulfonyl)bicyclo[1.1.0]butane.