Research Summary - Our research centers on the synthesis of natural and unnatural molecules of biological interest. We have been developing methodology in the general areas of carbohydrate chemistry and stereoselective synthesis, and have focused on three classes of compounds: (1) mimetics of SLeX, (2) 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans (THF’s), and (3) complex spiroketals.

Selected publications

Tony, K. A.; Li, X.; Dabideen, D.; Li, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2008, 6, In Press, DOI: 10.1039. An iodoetherification-dehydroiodination strategy for the synthesis of complex spiroketals from dihydroxyalkene precursors.

Li, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, In Press.  Synthesis of the AB Subunit of Angelmicin B through a Tandem Alkoxy Radical Fragmentation-Etherification Sequence.

Li, X.; Li, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 4303-4306. Synthesis of the ABCD Trioxadispiroketal Subunit of Azaspiracid-1: An Iodoetherification-Dehydroiodination Strategy for Complex Spiroketals.

Denton, R. W.; Tony, K. A.; Hernández, J. J.; Cañada, F. J.; Jiménez-Barbero, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Carbohydr. Res. 2007, 342, 1624-1635. Synthesis and Conformational Behavior of the Difluoromethylene Linked C-Glycoside of b-Galactose-(1->1)-a-Mannose.

Denton, R. W.; Cheng, X.; Tony, K. A.; Dilhas, A.; Hernández, J. J.; Canales, A.; Jiménez-Barbero, J.; Mootoo, D. R. C-disaccharides as probes for carbohydrate recognition. Investigation of the conformational requirements for binding of disaccharide mimetics of sialyl Lewis X.  Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 645-654.

Pérez-Castells, J.; Hernández-Gay, J. J.; Denton, R. W.; Tony, K. A.; Cañada, F. J.; Mootoo, D. R.; Jiménez-Barbero.  The conformational behavior and P-selectin inhibition of fluorine containing sialyl Lewis X glycomimetics. Org. Biomol. Chem 2007, 5, 1087-1092.

Tony, K. A.; Denton, R. W.; Dilhas, A.; Jiménez-Barbero, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Synthesis of b-C-galacto- pyranosides with fluorine on the pseudoanomeric substituent. Org. Lett. 2007, 9 1441-1444.

Augustin, L.; Fantini, J.; Mootoo, D. R. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2006, 14, 1182-1188. C- Glycoside Analogues of _-Galactosylceramide with a Simple Ceramide Substitute: Synthesis and Binding to HIV-1 gp120.

Hans, S.; Mootoo, D. R. Carbohydr. Res. 2006, 341, 1322-1332. A denovo approach to C-branched inositols: Synthesis of a myoinositol precursor for C-linked glycophosphatidyl inositols.