Synthetic Organosulfur and Organoselenium Chemistry

在这项由NSF化学部化学合成和生命过程化学项目资助的项目中，纽约州立大学奥尔巴尼分校化学系的Eric Block教授将在有机硫和硒化学的几个领域进行基础研究，例如：1)与人类硒代谢的核心角色--甲烷硒酚有关的低分子有机硒化合物的研究和膳食Se的抗癌活性；2)嗅觉研究，跟进铜在嗅觉挥发性硫化合物中的作用；3)硫代环烯的研究，这是一种特殊的碗状化合物，在金属催化剂和储能材料的设计中具有潜在的应用价值；4)大蒜和洋葱的化学研究，重点是发现新的、具有生物活性的含硫天然产物。该项目旨在回答有关合成有机和药物化学以及生物化学中这些重要元素的化学的基本问题。之所以选择每个目标，是因为在执行工作中面临着广泛的智力挑战，每个领域的知识匮乏(例如，小分子有机硒的代谢；挥发性含硫分子的嗅觉受体；金属与不寻常的配体的配位；以大蒜为灵感的药物)，以及每个领域工作产生重大发现的可能性。此外，该项目将为学生提供极好的培训，从本科前到博士后，包括那些在科学界历来代表性不足的学生。

In this project funded by the Chemical Synthesis and Chemistry of Life Processes Programs of the Chemistry Division of NSF, Professor Eric Block of the Department of Chemistry at the University at Albany, SUNY, will conduct basic research on several areas of organo-sulfur and -selenium chemistry, e.g., 1) Research on low molecular weight organoselenium compounds related to methaneselenol, a central player in human Se metabolism and the anticancer activity of dietary Se; 2) Research on olfaction, following up on the discovery of the role of copper in smelling volatile sulfur compounds; 3) Research on thiacorannulenes, unusual, bowl-shaped compounds with potential utility in design of metal catalysts and materials for energy storage; 4) Research on the chemistry of garlic and onion, emphasizing discovery of novel, biologically active sulfur containing, natural-products. The project seeks to answer fundamental questions on the chemistry of these important elements in synthetic organic and pharmaceutical chemistry, and biochemistry. Each aim was chosen because of the broad intellectual challenge presented in the execution of the work, the paucity of knowledge in each area (e.g., metabolism of small organoselenium compounds; olfactory receptors for volatile sulfur-containing molecules; metal-coordination to unusual ligands; garlic-inspired drugs), and the likelihood of significant discoveries resulting from work in each area. In addition, this project will provide excellent training of students, from pre-undergraduate to post-doctoral, including those from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences.