Synthetic Development of Nitrogen-Containing Scaffolds


   Significance of alkaloids, as evidenced by many applications such as those in medicine throughout human history, has prompted us to focus our attention on devising and refining synthetic routes toward many of their classes. We continue to seek new synthetic methods for the benzazepine moiety, which occurs frequently in both natural products and synthetic drugs. Some benzazepines have been shown to bind to the dopaminergic family of G-protein coupled receptors, which have been implicated in certain diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Many benzazepine-containing drugs have been used as tranquilizers. In addition, our interests also encompass synthetic studies of indoloquinoline (e.g., cryptolepine), isoquinonaphthyridine, indolopyridonaphthyridine, benzoquinolizine, phenanthrene, protoberberine, isoquinoline, benzophenanthridine, aporphine, erythrina, and other related alkaloids. These alkaloids exhibit therapeutic potential and some have been used clinically.