Erick K Leggans

Professor Leggans primary responsibilities are teaching the introductory course and laboratories for the Organic Chemistry (CHM 221-222) and General Chemistry (CHM 129). His research focus is in the semi and total synthesis of biologically active natural products and the development of new synthetic methods using heterocyclic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry. In addition to natural product synthesis, he has a keen interest in studying the natural products structure-activity relationship (SAR) and the effect that selective structural modification has on its medicinal properties. Leggans Summer Research 2014

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Leggans, E. K.; Duncan, K. K.; Barker, T. J.; Schleicher, K. D.; Boger, D. L. “A Remarkable Series of Vinblastine Analogues Displaying Enhanced Activity and an Unprecedented Tubulin Binding Steric Tolerance: C20’ Urea Derivatives,” J. Med. Chem. 2013,  56, 628-639. (Featured article).

Also see Viewpoint article highlighting importance of work. Silvestri, R.; “New Prospects for Vinblastine Analogues as Anticancer Agents,” J. Med. Chem. 2013, 56, 625-627

Leggans, E. K.; Barker, T. J.; Duncan, K. K.; Boger, D. L. “Iron(III)/NaBH4-Mediated Additions to Unactivated Alkenes: Synthesis of Novel 20’-Vinblastine Analogues,” Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 1428-1431. (Ranked best of 1608 articles in Organic Letters during 2012).

Leggans, E. K.; Akey, D. L; Smith, J. L.; Fecik, R. A. “A General Scheme for Synthesis of Substrate-based Polyketide Labels for Acyl Carrier Proteins,” Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2010, 20, 5939-5942.