Associate Professor and Reader
CONTACT DETAILS:
Address: School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
Room: Bio21 Inst. 505
Email: masr@unimelb.edu.au
Teaching responsibilities
Field of expertise
Asymmetric Synthesis of Biologically Active Molecules
Synthesis of spiroketal containing natural products
Reveromycin B is a recent example of a spiroketal containing natural product isolated from streptomyces sp. which acts as an inhibitor of mitogenic activity of epidermal growth factor. The total synthesis of reveromycin B has recently been completed by the group. We are currently investigating the synthesis of other piroketals such as those found in the milbemycin type antibiotics and the spirofungins which are antifungal compounds.
Synthesis of tetrahydropyrans from marine sources
Marine organisms are a source of many of biologically active natural products with a wide range of structural types. Rottnestol and raspailols A and B are examples of tetrahydrofuran containing marine metabolites that do not belong to a defined chemotaxonomic group. These compounds are of particular interest because they may represent the start of a new group. We have completed a total synthesis of rottnestol which has confirmed the stereochemistry and we are now pursuing the synthesis of the raspailols. We are also investigating the total synthesis of the salicylihalamides which are cytotoxic marine macrolides isolated from a sponge found in Australian waters.
Synthetic studies on furanoid natural products
The focus of this research is the synthesis of butenolide and tetrahydrofuran containing natural products with interesting biological activity. We are currently involved with the synthesis of a number of naturally occurring butyrolactones which have anti-inflammatory activity.
Synthetic studies towards the squalestatins/zaragozic acids
High serum cholesterol levels have been demonstrated to contribute to atherosclerosis and a lowering of these levels decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease. A number of compounds named the squalestatins and zaragozic acids have been isolated from a species of fungus and have shown to be effective in lowering serum cholesterol by inhibiting sterol biosynthesis. We are interested in the synthesis of these compounds and analogues as cholesterol lowering agents.
For further information visit the Rizzacasa research group page
Selected
Publications:
- El Sous, M.; Ganame, D.; Tregloan, P. A.; Rizzacasa, M. A., Org. Lett. 2004, 8, 3001-3004
- Hilli, F.; White, J. M.; Rizzacasa, M. A. Org. Lett. 2004, 8, 1289-1292.
- Zanatta, S. D.; White, J. M.; Rizzacasa, M. A. Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 1041-1044.
- Cuzzupe, A. N.; Di Florio, R.; White, J. M.; Rizzacasa, M. A. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2003, 1, 3572.
- Czuba, I. R.; Zammit, S.; Rizzacasa, M. A. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2003, 1, 3572-3577.
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