EPSAM

I am currently entering the second year of my PhD looking at stereoselective organic synthesis at Keele University with Dr. Matthew O’Brien. Prior to this I studied Chemistry and Biology, also at Keele University and graduated in 2012 with first class honours.

Awards:

John Tebby Award (2010)

Affiliations:

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Funding Acknowledgments:

I would like to thank EPSAM, SPAGS and Acorn for funding this research.

One of the main challenges seen in synthetic organic chemistry is the development of reactions that demonstrate high selectivity; thereby increasing the yield of a desired product and reducing the quantity of wasted material. This is further complicated by stereoisomerism causing the production of stereoisomers.

One method to favour the formation of a single diastereoisomer is to rely on the rapid epimerisation of a chiral centre within a molecule. I am looking at the epimerisation of a furanyl chiral centre in the synthesis of piperidines, tetrahydropyrans and spiro ring structures under acidic conditions and the use of this methodology in the synthesis of biologically important and pharmaceutically active compounds.

Conference Abstracts

• D. A. Cooper, D. Miles-Barrett and M. O’Brien, (2013) Towards a Rapid and Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted Tetrahydropyrans. 23rd International Symposium: Synthesis in Organic Chemistry (Oxford)