Research Projects

Proteins play a central role in almost every biological process, performing diversified functions in living organisms. The introduction of natural and Unnatural Amino Acids (UAAs) into proteins offers unprecedented capability for site-specific protein manipulation in living systems, and understanding their structure-function relationship. This study proposes to develop transition-metal catalyzed strategies for the distal C(sp2)–H bond functionalization on aryl/heteroaryl motifs of aromatic α-amino acids by envisaging the possibilities of distal C(sp2)–H bond activation, using appropriately stapled directing groups. In addition, annulation on the aromatic moiety in tyrosine and tryptophan would be explored.