Maciej Walczak, from the University of Colorado, will deliver a seminar entitled, "From Small Molecules to Biologics: Exploring Polarity Reversal Strategies for Novel Therapeutic Opportunities." Hosted by Tianning Diao.
For more information about Maciej Walczak, click here.
Abstract: The synthesis of small molecules and biologics using polarity reversal (umpolung) strategies has the potential to transform drug discovery by tapping into previously underexplored reagents and mechanisms. In this lecture, I will present our research on the use of umpolung methods to build and functionalize small molecules, carbohydrates, peptides, and proteins. Specifically, I will discuss the reactions of anomeric nucleophiles, their stereoretentive transformations, and our recent studies with AlaM reagents, which have led to broadly applicable methods in preparative carbohydrate/peptide chemistry. Our translational studies have also shown the potential of these strategies to generate new anti-infective leads, underscoring their significance in advancing drug discovery. In broader terms, our work highlights the importance of polarity reversal strategies as a vehicle for chemical innovations and the potential for these strategies to enable the development of novel therapeutics.