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Our research group is interested in the development of tools and strategies for constructing molecular complexity at the level of small molecules and biologics. We plan to explore innovative approaches to address unsolved chemical, biological, medicinal questions, in which the control of chemical reactivity and efficiency are the central challenges. Our problems are identified based on their mechanistic/structural features and potential impact outside chemical sciences. In framing and validating the chemical hypotheses we take full advantage of all available physical, chemical, and biological tools. Studies on new catalytic transformations that focus on the control of absolute and relative stereochemistry are particularly attractive to us, and it is our goal to establish a general mechanistic platform for reaction discovery and optimization. Additionally, total synthesis of natural products displaying challenging structural features and promising biological activities will be a significant component of the research portfolio. Our interests lie in the area of therapeutically promising alkaloids, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates.

1. M. A. Walczak, J. Hayashida, S. J. Danishefsky, Building Biologics by Chemical Synthesis: Practical Preparation of Di- and Triantennary N-linked Glycoconjugates, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 4700-4703.

2. M. A. Walczak, S. J. Danishefsky, Solving the Convergence Problem in the Synthesis of Triantennary N-Glycan Relevant to Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012,134, 16430-16433.

3. M. A. A. Walczak, P. Wipf, B. K. Shin, S. Saxena, ESR analysis of the mechanism of pericyclic reactions of bicyclobutanes, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2009, 7, 2363-2366.

4. M. A. A. Walczak, P. Wipf, Rhodium(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of bicyclobutanes, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 6924-6925.

5. P. Wipf, M. A. A. Walczak, Pericyclic cascade reactions of (bicyclo[1.1.0]butylmethyl)amines, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 4172-4175.