Guijun Wang, Ph.D.
B.S., Tsinghua University, Beijing, 1990
M.S., Tsinghua University, Beijing, 1993
Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1999
Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University, 2002
Assistant Professor, University of New Orleans, 2002
Associate Professor, University of New Orleans, 2006 |
Our main research interests are the synthesis of biologically interesting compounds including the design and synthesis of chiral small molecules and the total synthesis of complex natural products. We are also interested in synthesizing and developing self-assembling supramolecular systems.Overviews of our current projects are shown below:
Chiral scaffolds and chiral drug-like libraries
Despite the structural diversity of medicinal compounds, there are key substructures that frequently appear in several different classes of drugs. For instance, oxazolidinones and piperazines are core substructures in antibacterial (1, 2) and antiviral agent Crixivan (3) respectively. We are developing synthetic strategies for important chiral small molecules and drug-like compound libraries. Currently we are focusing on the synthesis of compound libraries that could lead to novel antimicrobial and anti-cancer agents.
Design and synthesis of thrombosis inhibitors
Aeruginosins are serine protease inhibitors isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa. They are small linear peptides that contain a new bicyclic amino acid core structure containing 2-carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole (Choi). Aeruginosins are thrombin and factor VIIa inhibitors and this new amino acid is important for their biological activity. In order to understand the structure-activity relationship and to discover novel thrombosis inhibitors, we are synthesizing analogs of the natural aeruginosins (4) using different octahydroindoles and other unnatural amino acids.
The second class of compounds we are interested in are the cyclic glycopeptides, mannopeptimycins. Mannopeptimycins and their derivatives are novel antibacterial agents against multi-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Currently we are developing methods towards the total synthesis of these cyclic glycopeptides.
Carbohydrate based self-assembling systems
Carbohydrates contain all of the important elements needed to prepare highly functional and synthetically flexible compounds. The creation of novel functional biocompatible materials from abundant carbohydrates is very important for the advancement of carbohydrate chemistry, material science, biotechnology and the biomedical field. In this research, novel carbohydrate based low molecular weight hydrogelators and other functional materials are synthesized and characterized. Their applications in enzyme immobilization and biosensors as well as controlled release media are being explored. The research effort should contribute significantly to biomaterials research in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bimolecular recognition.
Selected Publications
“A New Synthesis of Chiral 1,3-oxazinan-2-ones from Carbohydrate Derivatives,” J.-R. Ella-Menye, V. Sharma, G. Wang, J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 463-469.
“Synthesis of a Ring Oxygenated Variant of the 2-Carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole Core of Aeruginosin 298-A from Glucose” X. Nie and G. Wang, J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 8687-8692.
“Synthesis and Characterization of Monosaccharide Lipids as Novel Hydrogelators” G. Wang, S. Cheuk, K. Williams, V. Sharma, L. Dakessian and Z. Thorton. Carbohydrate Research, 2006, 341, 705-716.
“Synthesis and Antibacterial Activities of Chiral 1,3-Oxazinan-2-one Derivatives” G. Wang, J. R. Ella-Menye, V. Sharma, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2006, 16, 2177-2181.
“Synthesis and Self-assembling Properties of Diacetylene Containing Glycolipids.” X. Nie and G. Wang, J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 4734-4741.
Wang Research Group Information
Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Guijun Wang |
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Curriculum Vita |
Associate Professor of Chemistry |
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Current Group Members: |
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Position open |
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Postdoctoral Researcher |
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Jean Rene Ella Menye |
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Graduate Student |
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Sherwin Cheuk |
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Graduate Student |
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Kristopher Williams |
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Graduate Student |
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Navneet Goyal |
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Graduate Student |
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Michael St. Martin |
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Graduate Student |
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Chien Tsao |
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Undergraduate Student |
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Research Funding: |
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American Heart Association, Scientist Development Grant, 1/2004-12/2007 |
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National Science Foundation, 9/2005-8/2008 |
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Position Opening: |
One postdoctoral researcher position is available |
Two graduate students positions are available |
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One undergraduate student position is available |
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Postdoctoral Research Associates: One or two postdoctoral positions in organic chemistry are available. Potential candidates should be a recent Ph.D. in organic chemistry with training in the area of small molecule synthesis. Experiences in characterization of complex compounds, biochemistry or materials chemistry are also desired. The first position is for the synthesis of natural products and carbohydrate based molecular systems. The second candidate is expected to carry out research in the synthesis and characterization of glycolipids self-assembling systems or biomaterials.
Please send/email CV and 3 letters of recommendation to:
Dr. Guijun Wang
Department of Chemistry
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148
Email: gwang2@uno.edu
Wang Group Photos
Summer 2004 in front of Chemistry Building. From left to right: Jean Rene Ella-Menye, Xiaoping Nie, Lousi Dakessian, Zeus Thorton, Emmanuelle Sebah, Sherwin Cheuk, Guijun Wang, Michael S. Martin.
Summer 2006 at Pensacola Gulf Coast Chemistry Conference. From left to right: Kristopher Williams, Jean Rene Ella-Menye, Sherwin Cheuk.
April 2007, in front of chemistry building at UNO, From left to right: Xiaoping Nie, Navneet Goyal, Branden Hopkinson, Guijun Wang, Sherwin Cheuk, Jean Rene Ella-Menye, Kristopher Williams.
Picnic on UNO Campus April 2007.