Steven L. Castle
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Office: C-405 BNSN
Office Phone: 801-422-1780
Email: scastle@chem.byu.edu
Education
BS, Brigham Young University (1995)
Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute (2000)
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Irvine (2000-2002)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (2004)
Research Interests
Research in the Castle group is focused on the total synthesis of architecturally complex natural products. We believe that the structures of such compounds can serve as inspiration for the invention of new organic reactions and processes. Thus, we carefully select our synthetic targets with the development of novel chemistry as our primary objective.
The new reactions that we develop in the course of synthesizing a natural product are fully investigated with respect to scope and mechanism. It is our aim to develop widely applicable processes that deliver complex products from simple starting materials in a minimum number of steps. We also believe that it is important to understand how these processes operate.
In the cases where our targets possess significant biological activity (including anticancer properties), we use our synthetic routes to these molecules to produce structural analogues. This allows us to elucidate the modes of action of these compounds.
Student Involvement/Requirements
I will train between 3 and 4 undergraduates. The undergraduates will receive training and will work with me the first few weeks. After the first few weeks they will work with post-docs and graduate students.
Students must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for work in my lab:
1.) Chem 351 (Organic Chemistry 1st half)
2.) Chem 352 (Organic Chemistry 2nd half)
3.) Chem 353 (Organic Chemistry Lab)
Having received good grades in the above mentioned courses is strongly recommended. Enthusiasm for organic chemistry and a willingness to work hard make a student a more attractive candidate. A one year commitment is generally required. The work is publication oriented, and is funded by NIH, and Research Corporation.
Publications
Mettath, S., Srikanth, G.S.C., Dangerfield, B.S., and Castle, S.L., “Asymmmetric Synthesis of β-Hydroxy Amino Acids via Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Ammonium Salts,” J. Org. Chem., 69(19), 6489-6492 (2004).
Srikanth, G.S.C., Castle, S.L., “Synthesis of β-Substituted α-Amino Acids via Lewis Acid Promoted Radical Conjugate Additions to α,β-Unsaturated α-Nitro Esters and Amides,” Org. Lett., 6, 449–452 (2004).
