PhD Dissertation Defense Proposal by Eberechukwu Nwagwu
Advisor: Dr. David Manke, Research Advisor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Committee members:
- Dr. Catherine Neto, Committee Member, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Dr. Shuowei Cai, Committee Member, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Dr. Elliot Hulley, Committee Member, Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming
Abstract:
The aim of this project is to develop a general method for the synthesis of novel secondary tryptamines through reductive amination. Once the method is fully established, a series of tryptamines will be synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography. These compounds will also be used as reagents for further alkylation to generate new tertiary and quaternary tryptamines. The focus on tryptamines stems from renewed interest in their long-known psychoactive effects. Tryptamine natural products like psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine from “magic” mushrooms) and DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine from ayahuasca) have been used in centuries old indigenous ceremonies. The psychoactive effects arise from the activation of serotonin receptors in the human brain. The new compounds produced in this thesis will be examined by collaborators at the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), the University of Wyoming and the Medical College of Wisconsin for binding and activity at serotonin receptors, as well as their effects in animal studies. In combination, these data will examine structure-activity relationships and inform the next compounds to be targeted.
Join Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 869 2912 5463
Passcode: 4PsERf
SENG 311 & Zoom
Heather Blaser
508-999-8587
hblaser@umassd.edu
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86929125463?pwd=FAGLrIYt7SZPT3FbA90JgiJX2tGHOk.1