Navigating the chemical space of amide activation to drug discovery

Abstract

This presentation will describe my scientific journey from graduate school to industry. My doctoral research at UCLA focused on the development of nickel-catalyzed reactions of amides. In particular, the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, esterification, and transamidation of amide substrates will be described. These studies demonstrate that amides, despite classically being considered inert substrates, can be harnessed as synthons for use in the construction of C-heteroatom and C-C bonds via non-precious metal catalysis. After an abbreviated tenure in a post-doctoral position, I made the exciting decision to transition to a start-up drug discovery company where I am now a medicinal chemist working in small mol. drug discovery.