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David A. Colby
Assistant Professor—Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Email: dcolby@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-496-3962
Office: RHPH 412A
Our research group blends the science of medicinal chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry through the use of natural product synthesis, the design of structurally-related analogues for structure-activity investigations, and the development of new synthetic methodologies. Natural products have continually been a rich source of structurally-complex molecules coupled with a dazzling spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. Specifically in our laboratory, we seek to use natural products as potential leads for drug discovery in drug-resistant cancer and infectious diseases. Oftentimes during these investigations, new synthetic methodologies must be developed in order selectively modify the complex molecular architectures of natural products. Parthenolide, syringolin A, and mannopeptimycin E are some of the representative targets that we will investigate due to their unique structures and biological activities.
Education
Pharm.D., University of Iowa, 2001; Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 2006; Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, 2006-2008.Recognitions
- ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Fellowship, 2004-05
- AACP/Merck Research Scholar, 1999-2000
Selected Publications
- Ishikawa, H.; Colby, D. A.; Seto, S.; Va, P.; Tam, A.; Kakei, H.; Rayl, T. J.; Hwang, I.; Boger, D. L., Total Synthesis of Vinblastine, Vincristine, Related Natural Products, and Key Structural Analogues. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009 , 131, 4904-4916.
- Han, C.; Barrios, F. J.; Riofski, M. V.; Colby, D. A., Semisynthetic Derivatives of Sesquiterpene Lactones by Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of the alpha-Methylene-gamma-lactone Substructure. . J. Org. Chem. 2009 , ASAP, .
- Ishikawa, H.; Colby, D. A.; Boger, D. L., Direct Coupling of Catharanthine and Vindoline to Provide Vinblastine: Total Synthesis of (+)- and ent-(-)- Vinblastine. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008 , 130, 420-421.
- Lawhorn, B. G.; Boga, S. B.; Wolkenberg, S. E.; Colby, D. A.; Guass, C. -M.; Swingle, M. R.; Amable, L.; Honkanen, R. E.; Boger, D. L., Total Synthesis and Evaluation of Cytostatin, its C10-C11 Diastereomers, and Additional Key Analogues: Impact on PP2A Inhibition. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006 , 128, 16720-16732.