Carl Schiesser
Professor of Chemistry
Teaching responsibilities
Field of expertiseFree Radical and Antioxidant ChemistryFree radicals are ubiquitous, reactive chemical entities. It is well established that cell damage associated with cardiovascular disease, ischemia/trauma and inflammation is often mediated by free radicals and related reactive oxygen species. In addition, atmospheric pollutants together with UV radiation can serve as sources of biological stress that involve free radicals as the principal mediators.
In addition, many commercially valuable products deteriorate through processes that involve free radicals. For example, oxidative stress can result in polymer degradation and food spoilage. The fundamental understanding of the factors that control free radical reactions and the prevention of radical damage know no frontiers. Perhaps paradoxically, it is the very reactivity of free radicals that makes them useful intermediates in chemical synthesis, especially in the preparation of complex organic molecules with high chemo- regio- and stereo-control. In addition, by harnessing freeradical reactivity, biological processes can be controlled, in turn leading to the prevention of disease and the development of new treatments for disease states mediated by free radicals. Work in the Schiesser group is currently directed toward improving our understanding of free radical processes and to building on this knowledge in the design and preparation of novel molecules. Work is currently being directed in four areas:
Free radical chemistry involving selenium Selenium-containing antibiotics, carbohydrates, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents are current synthetic targets because of the radical quenching properties of organic selenides.
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