Abstract

Natural products continue to play an important role in human health, with applications ranging from earth friendly insecticide alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Our research encompasses several aspects of natural product chemistry and drug discovery. Specifically, we are engaged in the structural identification and large scale synthesis of insect pheromones as well as the development of synthetic methods and strategies to access stereochemically rich heterocyclic natural products as leads for drug discovery. Central to our research philosophy is an emphasis on step economy and flexibility. This presentation will highlight some of our recent advances in deciphering and exploiting the chemical communication system of bed bugs, the development of convenient syntheses of stereochemically rich heterocyclic natural products, and the identification of a C-H fluorination strategy for the late-stage modification of drug leads.