Synthesis of 1-AZA-Bicyclic Compounds
Undergraduate Project
Investigators: Pier Cirillo, Lecturer of Chemistry, Lucia Moreno, Kyle Lambert
Sponsor: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships 2010 and 2011.
Project Description: For centuries, ancient Chinese medicine (Ku Shen) has employed the root of Sophora Flavescens in the treatment of various ailments such as diarrhea, jaundice, skin rashes, and to kill parasites. One of the major alkaloids of interest found within the root of the Sophora plant is matrine (below), a compound containing 1-aza bicyclic structural motifs called quinolizidine.
Dr. Cirillo, a consultant for L 2 Diagnostics of New Haven, CT, is developing new iridium- or rhodium- catalyzed methodology
for the synthesis of quinolizidines, with the aim to extend its application towards
the synthesis of matrine and analogs.