Chemistry Seminar - Synthetic Strategies and Concepts Inspired by Natural Products

Title: Synthetic Strategies and Concepts Inspired by Natural Products

Speaker: Professor Andrew Lawrence (University of Edinburgh)

Abstract: Our research effort is primarily focused on the total synthesis of natural products, exploring new strategies and concepts in chemical synthesis, and developing new synthetic methodology. This presentation will be an account of our research into how molecular complexity is rapidly and selectively generated in biosynthetic pathways. This will include our recent development of new synthetic strategies towards complex natural products and the exploration of new concepts in asymmetric synthesis.

Bio: Prof. Andy Lawrence is a synthe4c organic chemist with research interests in the chemical synthesis of natural products, exploring new strategies and concepts in chemical synthesis, and developing new synthe4c methodology. Andy completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oxford, St John’s College (2002–2006, MChem, Hons 1st Class) and subsequently obtained a DPhil degree in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Sir Jack Baldwin FRS and Prof. Rob Adlington. Andy then moved to Australia to spend two years (2010–2011) as a postdoctoral research fellow with Prof. Mick Sherburn at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. In 2012, Andy began his independent academic career as an Australian Research Council Fellow at the ANU before moving back to the UK in 2013 for a permanent academic positon at the University of Edinburgh, where he is now full Professor (Chair of Organic Synthesis) and currently Director of Research.