The Wilkerson-Hill Group
Continued from page 12
Reaction Methodology
The development of new reactions is critical for advances in many fields such as pharmaceutical, biological,
and material sciences, because doing so permits access to unique chemical space. Structurally complex di-
meric products represent unique chemical space, because reactions that allow cross dimerization reactivity
are lacking.
Linchpin strategies are a nontraditional take on dimeric components and provide the advantage of being
convergent and opportunities to access dimers that lack bilateral symmetry. In the Hill lab, members have
developed a new linchpin reagent bis(2-chloroacrylonitrile) and are currently investigating its reactivity and
ability to provide dimeric natural products which contain, or lack, bilateral symmetry.
Total Synthesis
The sequence of reactions by which a complex natural product is obtained is of paramount importance.
Unique synthetic strategies can result in the development of innovative reaction methodologies, uncover
new reactivity of small molecules, and begin to address shortages natural compounds used as leads for drug
development. Total synthesis also provides a means to confirm the structure of natural products, which can
be critical for understanding how they function.
20 | CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
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