Professor Boeckman's research efforts focus on the development of new synthetic methodology, applicable solution of complex stereochemical problems, including
asymmetric synthesis. His research employs organometallic chemistry and conformational theory to assist creation of stereocontrolled synthetic transformations
and utilizes complex multifunctional molecules as target structures for applications of his methodological studies.
Currently, Professor Boeckman's research group is developing new methodology for asymmetric synthesis using novel chiral auxiliaries, ligands, and associated
metal complexes as catalysts based upon a family of chiral bicyclic lactams derived from camphor and pinene. Other goals include the creation of medium rings
via the retro-Claisen rearrangement. These methodologies, among several, are being applied to the total synthesis of a variety of biologically significant natural
products which requires the use of the full range of modern analytical instrumentation, including HPLC, high field NMR, GC-MS, and X-ray crystallography.
Target structures include the antitumor compounds tetronolide (1) and esperamicin (2), the novel hypoglycemic agent saudin (3), thepotent immunosuppressant FK-506
(4), the antibiotics laurencin (5) and laurenyne (6), and the antibiotic/antiinfective UTC4B (8).
Research by Dr. Boeckman and his group provides new tools and methodologies for preparative organic chemistry which have practical application in the areas of
medicinal chemistry relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
Relevant Publications
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Song, X., Pero, J. E.
"Facile Preparation and Functionalization of Chiral Stabilized Ylides from Common Chiral Auxiliaries Using Triphenylphosphoranylideneketene (the Bestmann Ylide) and Their Use in Wittig Reactions,"
J. Org. Chem.
2006,
71,
8969-8972.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Hanson, S. M., Cody, J. A.
"Alkylation of 2-Butyl-4,4-dimethyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxathiien-1,1-dioxide, a New Class of Acyl Anion Equivalents as an Alternative to Dithianes,"
Heterocycles
2006,
70,
519-530.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Shao, P., Wrobleski, S. T., Boehmler, D. J., Heintzelman, G. R., Barbosa, A. J. "
Toward the Development of a General Chiral Auxiliary. A Total Synthesis of (+)-Tetronolide via a Tandem Ketene-Trapping [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Strategy,"
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2006,
128,
10572-10588.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Pero, J. E., Boehmler, D. J.
"Toward the Development of a General Chiral Auxiliary. Enantioselective Alkylation and a New Catalytic Asymmetric Addition of Silyloxyfurans: Application to a Total Synthesis of (-)-Rasfonin,"
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2006,
128,
11032-11033.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Reeder, L. M.
"Toward the development of a general chiral auxiliary 10: Enhancement of diastereoselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions of imides derived from a new bicyclic lactam chiral controller molecule,"
Synlett
2004,
8,
1399-1403.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Ferreira, M. R. R., Mitchell, L. H., Shao, P.
"An Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+) and (-)-Saudin. Determination of the Absolute Configuration,"
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2002,
124,
190-191.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Clark, T. J., Shook, B. J.
"A Practical Enantioselective Total Synthesis of the Bengamides B, E, and Z,"
Org. Lett.
2002,
4,
2109-2112.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Liu, X.
"Controllable Monoaddition of Carbon Nucleophiles to 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane: Two-directional Chain Extension of a C2 Symmetric Four Carbon Diepoxide as a Route to Differentiated Syn-1,2-Diols,"
Synthesis
2002,
14,
2138-2142.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Zhang, J., Reeder, M. R.
"Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies of the Retro-Claisen Rearragement 4. Application to an Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Laurenyne,"
Org. Lett.
2002,
4,
3891-3894.
Boeckman, R. K., Jr., Clark, T. J., Shook, B. J.
"The Development of a Convergent Efficient Enantioselective Synthesis of the Bengamides Via a Common Polyol Intermediate,"
Helv. Chim. Acta
2002,
85,
4532-4560.
