Dr Patrick J. Murphy

School of Natrual Sciences 

Alun Roberts Building

Bangor

LL57 2UW

Tel: 01248 382375

Email:  chs027@bangor.ac.uk

Reader in organic chemistry, interests in natural product isolation and synthesis, reagent chemistry, asymmetric chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, new reactions, biosynthesis and abiogenesis.

Research

We have a longstanding interest in guanidine containing natural products and the development of synthetic methodology for their preparation, this research has targeted the total synthesis of several sponge metabolites, for example crabescindine 359, the batzelladines and the cylindrospermopsin alkaloids isolated from several species of cyanobacteria. We are also interested in other guanidine containing biomolecules for example the unusual amino acid enduracididine isolated from the seeds of Lonchocurpus sericeus and nitensidines D and E isolated from the leaves of Pterogyne nitens which exhibited cytotoxicity towards HL-60 (human myeloblastic leukemia) and SF-245 (human glioblastoma) cells. Other targets include the novel β-carboline guanidine derivative tiruchanduramine a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from the Indian ascidian Synoicum macroglossum and trachycladindoles G a cytotoxic guanidine isolated from the marine sponge Trachycladus laevispirulifer.

As part of our general methodology, we have developed a variety of conjugate addition strategies as well as utilizing ring opening reactions of epoxides with guanidines and iodocyclisation of protected guanidines for the synthesis of novel guanidine heterocycles. 

Other project areas include:

o Parasitology; development of new lead compounds.
o Antisense Oligonucleotide agents for treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
o Abiogenesis; peptide evolution and the effects of H-bonding
o Asymmetric catalysis; organocatalysis and transition metal mediated synthesis
o Natural product isolation
o Chiral lithium amide mediated asymmetric synthesis
o Asymmetric phase transfer catalysis
o Intramolecular Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier reactions
o Materials chemistry
o Novel quinone based pro-drug delivery systems

Not averse to the occasional game of bridge or snooker or walking whilst catching up with a podcast.