My research interests fall into two general categories; the synthesis of biologically relevant compounds and pesticide contamination in wildlife.  Each area is describes in more detail below.

Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Compounds: My work in this area is, at present, divided into two area. The first is the synthesis of a conformationally constrained organophosphorus analog of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Once this compound is prepared, it will be used in enzyme assays to learn more about the active site of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine.  We hope to learn more about the stereochemistry involved in phosphorylation of acetylcholinesterase.  We may also study events that take place after the enzyme has been phosphorylated.

The second synthetic project is a collaboration with a colleague at Ohio University and involves examining new methodology for the synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols.  These compounds are a common structural feature of several different drugs/ pharmaceutical agents.  We plan to synthesize these compounds through nucleophilic ring opening of a three membered nitrogen heterocycle.  In addition, we plan to extend our methodology to the solid phase.  Solid phase chemistry is very attractive to the pharmaceutical industry because it often times make purification easier and lends itself to the simultaneous production of many compounds.

Both of these projects will provide exposure to modern synthetic, purification, and analytical techniques.  In addition, the enzyme inhibitor project should provide experience in enzyme assays.

Pesticide Contamination in Wildlife: I have an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Harper (IWU Biology Department) in which we are screening various species of songbirds to determine levels of organochlorine pesticide contamination.  Future work in this area may involve other species and screening for exposure to organophosphorus compounds using enzyme assays.  This project will provide experience in extraction of solid material, column chromatography, and analysis by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.