Peter O'Brien

Peter O'Brien's Biography

Peter O'Brien studied for a degree and PhD at the University of Cambridge, carrying out a PhD under the supervision of Stuart Warren.  After the award of his PhD in 1995, he moved to the University of York as a Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellow. In March 1996, he was appointed as a lecturer at York and was promoted to Senior Lecturer (2002), Reader (2005) and Professor (2007). 

His research interests include asymmetric synthesis, organolithium methodology, synthesis of saturated heterocycles, medicinal chemistry and fragment-based drug discovery – and his efforts in these areas have been recognized by the award of the Royal Society of Chemistry Organic Stereochemistry Award in 2013 and the AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer & Syngenta prize for Process Chemistry Research in 2017. In 2019, he has awarded a Royal Society Industry Fellowship to work in collaboration with AstraZeneca on fragment-based drug discovery in 3-dimensions.

Peter is also a passionate teacher and was awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award in 2015 and the University’s Teacher of the Year in the York University Student Union Excellence Awards in 2019.

Additional information:

Earlier in his career, Peter was awarded one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Meldola medals and prizes (1999) and a GlaxoWellcome award for innovative organic chemistry (2000).

Peter has also been an active member of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Heterocyclic & Synthesis Group, serving as the group’s Secretary in 2005-2007 and the Chairperson in 2017-2020.

Peter was an associate editor of the international journal “Tetrahedron” from 1998-2017.

 

Peter presenting at the Royal Society to launch his industry fellowship with AstraZeneca, November 2019

 

Publications

Publication List (1995 - Present)

 

153 "Exploration of piperidine 3D fragment chemical space: synthesis and 3D shape analysis of fragments derived from 20 regio- and diastereoisomers of methyl substituted pipecolinates" 

S. P. Jones,  J. D. Firth, M C. Wheldon,   M. Atobe,a  R. E. Hubbard, D. C. Blakemore   C. De Fusco,   S. C. C. Lucas, S. D. Roughley, L. R. Vidler,   M. A. Whatton,   A. J.-A. Woolford, G. L. Wrigley  and  P. O'Brien. RSC Med. Chem., 2022, 27, 2484

 

152 "Escape from planarity in fragment-based drug discovery: A synthetic strategy analysis of synthetic 3D fragment libraries"

H. F. Klein, D. J. Hamilton, I. J. P. de Esch, M. Wijtmans, P. O'Brien. Drug Discovery Today, 2022, DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.05.021

 

151 "Puckering the Planar Landscape of Fragments: Design and Synthesis of a 3D Cyclobutane Fragment Library"

D. J. Hamilton, M. Beemsterboer, C.e M. Carter, J. Elsayed, R. E. M. Huiberts, H. F. Klein, P. O'Brien, I. J. P. de Esch, M. Wijtmans. ChemMedChem, 2022, e2022001

 

 

150 "Organolithium Gels – Simple Easily Divided Delivery Vehicles for Highly Reactive Species"

P. Slavik, P. O'Brien, D. K. Smith, ChemRxiv, 2022, 10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-q2txr

 

149 "2,2,5,5-Tetramethyloxolane (TMO) as a Solvent for Buchwald–Hartwig Aminations"

B. R. Trowse, F. P. Byrne, J. Sherwood, P. O’Brien, J. Murray, and T. J. Farmer, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2021, 9, 17330

 

 

148 "Escape from planarity in fragment-based drug discovery: A physicochemical and 3D property analysis of synthetic 3D fragment libraries"

D. J.Hamilton, T. Dekker, H. F. Klein, G. V. Janssen, M. Wijtmans, P. O’Brien, I. J.P.de Esch, Drug Discov. Today Technol. 2020, 38, 77  

 

147 "Fragment binding to the Nsp3 macrodomain of SARS-CoV-2 identified through crystallographic screening and computational docking"

M. Schuller, G. J. Correy, S. Gahbauer, D. Fearon, T. Wu, R. Efraín Díaz, I. D. Young, L. Carvalho Martins, D. H. Smith, U. Schulze-Gahmen, T. W. Owens, I. Deshpande, G. E. Merz, A. C. Thwin, J. T. Biel, J. K. Peters, M. Moritz, N. Herrera, H. T. Kratochvil, QCRG Structural Biology Consortium, A. Aimon, J. M. Bennett, J. Brandao Neto, A. E. Cohen, A. Dias, A. Douangamath, L. Dunnett, O. Fedorov, M. P. Ferla, M. R. Fuchs, T. J. Gorrie-Stone, J. M. Holton, M. G. Johnson, T. Krojer, G. Meigs, A. J. Powell, J. Gregor, M. Rack, V. L. Rangel, S. Russi, R. E. Skyner, C. A. Smith, A. S. Soares, J. L. Wierman, K. Zhu, P.O’brien, N. Jura, A. Ashworth, J. J. Irwin, M. C. Thompson, J. E. Gestwicki, F. Von Delft, B. K. Shoichet, J.s S. Fraser, I. Ahel, Sci. Adv. 2021,  7, eabf8711

 

146 “Synthesis and functionalisation of a bifunctional normorphan 3D building block for medicinal chemistry”

A. R. Gomez-Angel, J. R. Donald, J. D. Firth, C. De Fusco, R. I. Storer, D. J. Cox and P. O’Brien, Tetrahedron, 2021, 81, 131961.

  

145 “Rapid “high” temperature batch and flow lithiation-trapping of N-Boc pyrrolidine”

A. Kwong, J. D. Firth, T. J. Farmer and P. O’Brien, Tetrahedron, 2021, 81, 131899.

 

144 “Fragment-derived modulators of an industrial β-glucosidase”

E. Makraki, J. F. Darby, M. G. Carneiro, J. D. Firth, A. Heyam, E. Ab, P. O’Brien, G. Siegal and R. E. Hubbard, Biochem. J. 2020, 477, 4383-4395.

 

143. “Crystallographic and electrophilic fragment screening of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease”

A. Douangamath, D. Fearon, P. Gehrtz, T. Krojer, P. Lukacik, C. D. Owen, E. Resnick, C. Strain-Damerell, A. Aimon, P. Ábrányi-Balogh, J. Brandaõ-Neto, A. Carbery, G. Davison, A. Dias, T. D Downes, L. Dunning, M. Fairhead, J. D. Firth, S. P. Jones, A. Keely, G. M. Keserü, H. F Klein, M. P. Martin, M. E. M. Noble, P. O’Brien, A. Powell, R. Reddi, R. Skyner, M. Snee, M. J. Waring, C. Wild, N. London, F. von Delft and M. A. Walsh, Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 5047.

 

142. “Design and Synthesis of 56 Shape Diverse 3-D Fragments”

P. O’Brien, T. D. Downes, S. P. Jones, H. F. Klein, M. C. Wheldon, M. Atobe, P. S. Bond, J. D. Firth, N. S. Chan, L. Waddelove, R. E. Hubbard, D. C. Blakemore, C. De Fusco, S. D. Roughley, L. R. Vidler, M. A. Whatton, A. J.-A. Woolford and G. L. Wrigley, Chem. Eur. J., 2020, 26, 8969-8975.

 

141 “Visible-light-induced intramolecular charge transfer in the radical spirocyclisation of indole-tethered ynones”

H. E. Ho, A. Pagano, J. A. Rossi-Ashton, J. R. Donald, R. G. Epton, J. C. Churchill, M. J. James, P. O’Brien , R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 1353-1360.

 

140. “Enantioselective Lithiation–substitution of nitrogen-containing heterocycles”

K. Kasten, N. Seling and P. O’Brien, Org. React. 2019, 100, 255-328.

 

139. "Merging π-Acid and Pd Catalysis: Dearomatizing Spirocyclization/Cross-Coupling Cascade Reactions of Alkyne-Tethered Aromatics"

H. E. Ho, T. C. Stephens , T. J. Payne, P. O’Brien , R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth. ACS Catal., 2019, 9, 504-510

 

138. "Lead- and Fragment-oriented Synthesis, in Chemical and Biological Synthesis: Enabling Approaches for Understanding Biology"

J. D. Firth and P. O'Brien. Chemical and Biological Synthesis: Enabling Approaches for Understanding Biology, 2018, pp. 74-113 DOI: 10.1039/9781788012805-00074

 

137. "A Synthetic and Spectroscopic Investigation of the Asymmetric α-Lithiation-trapping of Six-Membered N-Boc Heterocycles using Alexakis Diamines" 

J. D. Firth, G. Gelardi, P. J. Rayner, D. Stead and P. O'Brien, Heterocycles, 2018, 97, 1288-1303.

 

 

136. "Ag(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Azabicyclic Alkaloid Frameworks from Ketimine-Tethered Ynones: Total Synthesis of Indolizidine 209D" 

H. E. Ho, M. J. James, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 1439–1443.

 

135.  "Gram-Scale Synthesis of the (−)-Sparteine Surrogate and (−)-Sparteine" 

J. D. Firth, S. J. Canipa, L. Ferris and P. O'Brien. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 223-226.

 

 

134. "Increase of enzyme activity through specific covalent modification with fragments"

J. F. Darby, M. Atobe, J. D. Firth, P. Bond, G. J. Davies, P. O'Brien and R. E. Hubbard, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 7772-7779

 

133 "General Procedures for the Lithiation/Trapping of N-Boc Piperazines"

J. D. Firth, P. O’Brien and L. Ferris, J. Org. Chem., 2017, 82, 7023–7031

132 "Catalytic Dearomatization Approach to Quinolizidine Alkaloids: Five Step Total Synthesis of (±)-Lasubine II"

M. J. James, N. D. Grant, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 6256-6259.

 

 

131 "Silica-Supported Silver Nitrate as a Highly Active Dearomatizing Spirocyclization Catalyst: Synergistic Alkyne Activation by Silver Nanoparticles and Silica"

A. K. Clarke, M. J. James, P. O'Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 13798-13802.

 

130 "Selective Synthesis of Six Products from a Single Indolyl α-Diazocarbonyl Precursor"

M. J. James, P. O'Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 9671-9675.

 

129 "Catalyst-Driven Scaffold Diversity: Selective Synthesis of Spirocycles, Carbazoles and Quinolines from Indolyl Ynones"

J. T. R. Liddon, M. J. James, A. K. Clarke, P. O'Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 8777-8780.

 

 

128 "From Heteroaromatic Acids and Imines to Azaspirocycles: Stereoselective Synthesis and 3D Shape Analysis"

S. J. Chambers, G. Coulthard, W. P. Unsworth, P. O'Brien and R. J. K. Taylor, Chem. Eur. J, 2016, 22, 6496-6500

 

127 “Synthesis of Enantiopure Piperazines via Asymmetric Lithiation-Trapping of N-Boc Piperazines: Unexpected Role of the Electrophile and Distal N-Substituent”

J. D. Firth, P. O’Brien and L. Ferris, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2016, 138, 651-659.

 

 

126 “Synthesis of Spirocyclic Indolenines”

M. J. James, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 2856-2881.

 

 

125 “Mechanistic Interrogation of the Asymmetric Lithiation-trapping of N-Thiopivaloyl Azetidine and Pyrrolidine”

P. J. Rayner, J. C. Smith, C. Denneval, P. O’Brien, P. A. Clarke and R. A. J. Horan, Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 1354-1357.

 

 

124 “Silver(I)-Catalysed Dearomatisation of Alkyne-Tethered Indoles: Divergent Synthesis of Spirocyclic Indolenines and Carbazoles”

M. J. James, R. E. Clubley, K. Y. Palate, T. J. Procter, A. C. Wyton, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Org. Lett., 2015, 17, 4372-4375.

 

123 “Investigation of the Lithiation-trapping of a N-Boc Bispidine-ketal: Reactivity and Diastereoselectivity”

D. Stead, P. O’Brien and A. Sanderson, Synlett, 2015, 26, 2381-2384. 

 

122 “Silver(I) or copper(II)-mediated dearomatisation of aromatic ynones: direct access to spirocyclic scaffolds”

M. J. James, J. D. Cuthbertson, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and W. P. Unsworth, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 7640-7643. 

 

121 “Lead-oriented synthesis: investigation of organolithium-mediated routes to 3-D scaffolds and 3-D shape analysis of a virtual lead-like library”

M. Lüthy, M. C. Wheldon, C. Haji-Cheteh, M. Atobe, P. S. Bond, P. O’Brien,R. E. Hubbard and I. J. S. Fairlamb, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2015, 23, 2680-2694.

 

120 “Cross-Coupling Knows No Limits: Assessing the Synthetic Potential of the Palladium-Catalysed Cross-Coupling of Organolithiums”

J. D. Firth and P. O’Brien, ChemCatChem, 2015, 7, 395-397. 

 

119 “Revisiting the sparteine surrogate: development of a resolution route to the (–)-sparteine surrogate”

J. D. Firth, P. O’Brien and L. Ferris, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 9357-9365. 

 

118 “Use of copper(II)/diamine catalysts in the desymmetrisation of meso-diols and asymmetric Henry reactions: comparison of (–)-sparteine and (+)-sparteine surrogates”

S. J. Canipa, A. Stute and P. O’Brien, Tetrahedron, 2014, 70, 7395-7403. 

 

117 “On the synthesis of a-amino sulfoxides”

P. J. Rayner, G. Gelardi, P. O’Brien, R. A. J. Horan and D. C. Blakemore, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 3499-3512. 

 

116 “Asymmetric Lithiation-Trapping of N-Boc Heterocycles at Temperatures above –78 °C”

G. Gelardi, G. Barker, P. O’Brien and D. C. Blakemore, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 5424-5427. 

 

115 “Preparation and Reactions of Enantiomerically Pure a-Functionalised Grignard Reagents”

P. J. Rayner, P. O’Brien and R. J. Horan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 8071-8077. 

 

114 “Halogen-Bonded Liquid Crystals of 4-Alkoxystilbazoles with Molecular Iodine: a Very Short Halogen Bond and Unusual Mesophase Stability”

L. J. McAllister, C. Präsang, J. P.-W. Wong, R. J. Thatcher, A. C. Whitwood, B. Donnio, P. O'Brien, P. B. Karadakov and D. W. Bruce, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 3946-3948.

 

113 “Stereocontrolled Synthesis of the AB Rings of Samaderine C”

D. J. Burns, S. Mommer, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor, A. C. Whitwood, and S. Hachisu, Org. Lett., 2013, 15, 394-397.

 

112 “Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Phospholene Boranes via Asymmetric Deprotonation and Ring-Closing Metathesis”

X. Wu, P. O’Brien, S. Ellwood, F. Secci and B. Kelly, Org. Lett., 2013, 15, 192-195.

 

111 “Amines bearing tertiary substituents by tandem enantioselective carbolithiation–rearrangement of vinyl ureas”

M. Tait, M. Donnard, A. Minassi, J. Lefranc, B. Bechi, G. Carbone, P. O’Brien and J. Clayden, Org. Lett., 2013, 15, 34-37. 

 

110 “Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of butane diacetal-protected (4S,5S)-dihydroxycyclohexen-1-one and use in natural product synthesis”

D. J. Burns, S. Hachisu, P. O’Brien and R. J. K. Taylor, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 7666-7668. 

 

109 “An Experimental and In Situ IR Spectroscopic Study of the Lithiation–Substitution of N-Boc 2-phenylpyrrolidine and piperidine: Controlling the Formation of Quaternary Stereocenters”

N. S. Sheikh, D. Leonori, G. Barker, J. D. Firth, K. R. Campos, P. O’Brien and I. Coldham, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 5300-5308. 

 

108 “Enantioselective, Palladium-Catalyzed a-Arylation of N-Boc Pyrrolidine: In Situ React IR Spectroscopic Monitoring, Scope and Synthetic Applications”

G. Barker, J. L. McGrath, A. Klapars, D. Stead, G. Zhou, K. R. Campos and P. O’Brien,  J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 5936-5953. 

 

107 “One-ligand Catalytic Asymmetric Deprotonation of a Phosphine Borane: Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Bisphosphine Ligands”

J. Granander, F. Secci, S. J. Canipa, P. O’Brien and B. Kelly, J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 4794-4799. 

 

106 “Synthesis of the Azaphilones (+)-Sclerotiorin and (+)-8-OMethylsclerotiorinamine Utilizing (+)-Sparteine Surrogates in Copper-Mediated Oxidative Dearomatization”

A. R. Germain, D. M. Bruggemeyer, J. Zhu, C. Genet, P. O’Brien and J. A. Porco, Jr., J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 2577-2584. 

 

105 “Investigation of bispidines as the stoichiometric ligand in the two-ligand catalytic asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc pyrrolidine”

G. Barker, P. O’Brien and K. R. Campos, ARKIVOC 2011, (v), 217-229. 

 

104 “Asymmetric Deprotonation using s-BuLi or i-PrLi and Chiral Diamines in THF: the Diamine Matters”

G. Carbone, P. O’Brien and G. Hilmersson, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 15445-15450. 

 

103 “Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Compounds via Kinetic Deprotonation and Dynamic Thermodynamic Resolution of Phosphine Sulfides: Opposite Sense of Induction using (–)-Sparteine”

J. J. Gammon, V. H. Gessner, G. R. Barker, J. Granander, A. C. Whitwood, C. Strohmann, P. O’Brien and B. Kelly, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 13922-13927. 

 

102 “Diamine-free Lithiation-Trapping of N-Boc Heterocycles using s-BuLi in THF”

G. Barker, P. O’Brien and K. R. Campos, Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 4176-4179. 

 

101 “Asymmetric Synthesis via Aziridinium Ions: Exploring the Stereospecificity of the Ring Opening of Aziridinium Ions and a Formal Synthesis of (–)-Swainsonine”

S. J. Oxenford, S. P. Moore, G. Carbone, G. Barker, P. O’Brien, M. R. Shipton, J. Gilday and K. R. Campos, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2010, 21, 1563-1568. 

 

100 “Asymmetric Deprotonation of N-Boc Piperidine: React IR Monitoring and Mechanistic Aspects”

D. Stead, G. Carbone, P. O’Brien, K. R. Campos, I. Coldham and A. Sanderson, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 7260-7261. 

 

99   “Unexpected products from the attempted organolithium-mediated conversion of cyclic β-methoxy aziridines into allylic amines”

S. C. Coote and P.O’Brien, Tetrahedron Lett., 2010, 51, 588-590. 

 

98   “Kinetic Resolution of P-Stereogenic Phosphine Boranes via Deprotonation using s-Butyllithium/(–)-sparteine”

J. Granander, F. Secci, P. O’Brien and B. Kelly, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2009, 20, 2432-2434.

 

97   “Catalytic Asymmetric Deprotonation of a Phosphine Borane: Comparison of Two-ligand and One-ligand Catalysis”

S. J. Canipa, P. O’Brien and S. Taylor, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2009, 20, 2407-2412. 

 

96   “Regioselective Lithiation of Silyl Phosphine Sulfides: Asymmetric Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Compounds”

J. J. Gammon, P. O’Brien and B. Kelly, Org. Lett., 2009, 11, 5022-5025. 

 

95   “Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Piperidines from Pyrrolidine: Concise Synthesis of (+)-L-733,060”

J. L. Bilke, S. P. Moore, P. O’Brien and J. Gilday, Org. Lett., 2009, 11, 1935-1938. 

 

94   “Lithiation-Electrophilic Trapping of N-Sulfonyl-activated Ethylene Aziridines”

J. Huang, S. P Moore, P. O’Brien, A. C Whitwood and J. Gilday, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2009, 7, 335. 

 

93   “Stereoselective Aziridination of Cyclic Allylic Alcohols Using Chloramine-T”

S. C. Coote, P. O’Brien and A. C. Whitwood, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2008, 6, 4299-4314. 

 

92   “Organolithium-mediated Conversion of b-Alkoxy Aziridines into Allylic Sulfonamides: Effect of the N-Sulfonyl Group and a Formal Synthesis of (±)-Perhydrohistrionicotoxin”

S. C. Coote, S. P. Moore, P. O’Brien, A. C. Whitwood and J. Gilday, J. Org. Chem., 2008, 73, 7852-7855. 

 

91   “On the Two-Ligand Catalytic Asymmetric Deprotonation of N-Boc Pyrrolidine: Probing the Effect of the Stoichiometric Ligand”

J. L. Bilke and P.O’Brien, J. Org. Chem., 2008, 73, 6452-6454. 

 

90   “Catalytic Asymmetric Deprotonation of Phosphine Boranes and Sulfides as a Route to P-Stereogenic Compounds”

J. J. Gammon, S. J. Canipa, P. O’Brien, B. Kelly and S. Taylor, Chem. Commun. 2008, 3750-3752. 

 

89   “Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Oxidation of Chiral Secondary Alcohols: Access to Both Enantiomeric Series”

D. C. Ebner, R. M. Trend, C. Genet, M. J. McGrath, P. O'Brien and B. M. Stoltz, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 6367-6370. 

 

88   “Expanding the Synthetic Potential of Asymmetric Deprotonation: Arylation of Carbanions”

P. O’Brien and J. L. Bilke, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 2734-2736. 

 

87   “Basic Instinct: Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of (+)-Sparteine Surrogates for Asymmetric Synthesis”

P. O’Brien, Chem. Commun., 2008, 655-667.  (Feature Article)

 

86   “A New Sparteine Surrogate for Asymmetric Deprotonation of N-Boc Pyrrolidine”

D. Stead, P. O’Brien and A. Sanderson, Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 1409-1412. 

 

85   “Synthesis of Substituted Allylic Sulfonamides from b-Alkoxy Aziridines and Organolithium Reagents”

S. P. Moore, P. O’Brien, A. C. Whitwood and J. Gilday, Synlett 2008, 237-241. 

 

84   “Stereocontrolled Synthesis and Alkylation of Cyclic b-Amino Esters: Asymmetric Synthesis of a (–)-Sparteine Surrogate”

J-P. R. Hermet, A. Viterisi, J. M. Wright, M. J. McGrath, P. O’Brien, A. C. Whitwood and J. Gilday, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2007, 5, 3614-3622. 

 

83   “Total synthesis of the lupin alkaloid cytisine: comparison of synthetic strategies and routes”

D. Stead and P. O’Brien, Tetrahedron, 2007, 63, 1885-1897. 

 

82   “Asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc piperidines”

I. Coldham, P. O’Brien, J. J. Patel, S. Raimbault, A. J. Sanderson, D. Stead and D. T. E. Whittaker, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2007, 18, 2113-2119. 

 

81   “New route to azaspirocycles via the organolithium-mediated conversion of b-alkoxy aziridines into cyclopentenyl amines”

S. P. Moore, S. C. Coote, P. O’Brien and J. Gilday, Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 5145-5148. 

 

80   “Synthesis of (+)-(1R,2S,9S)-11-Methyl-7,11-Diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0^2,7]tridecane, a (+)-Sparteine Surrogate”

A. J. Dixon, M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, Org. Synth., 2006, 83, 141-154. 

 

79   “Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Ferrocenes and P-Stereogenic Bisphosphines”

C. Genet, S. J. Canipa, P. O’Brien and S. Taylor, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 9336-9337. 

 

78   “Development of a Catalytic Asymmetric Variant of Hoppe’s O-Alkyl Carbamate Deprotonation Methodology”

M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, Synthesis, 2006, 2233-2241. 

 

77   “Reactivity series for s-BuLi/diamine-mediated lithiation of N-Boc pyrrolidine: applications in catalysis and lithiation of N-Boc piperidine”

M. J. McGrath, J. L. Bilke and P. O’Brien, Chem. Commun., 2006, 2607-2609. 

 

76   “Evaluation of sparteine-like chiral diamines in the enantioselective lithiation-electrophilic trapping of an O-alkyl carbamate”

C. Genet, M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2006, 4, 1376-1382. 

 

75   “Two-step Synthesis of N-Sulfonyl Aziridines from Epoxides”

J. Huang and P. O’Brien, Synthesis, 2006, 425-434. 

 

74   “Catalytic Asymmetric Deprotonation Using a Ligand Exchange Approach”

M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 16378-16379. 

 

73   “Scope and limitations of the catalytic asymmetric rearrangement of epoxides to allylic alcohols using chiral lithium amide bases/lithiated imidazoles”

S. J. Oxenford, J. M. Wright, P. O’Brien, N. Panday and M. R. Shipton, Tetrahedron Lett., 2005, 46, 8315-8318. 

 

72   “Organolithium-mediated conversion of b-functionalised aziridines into alkynyl amino alcohols and diamines”

J. Huang and P. O’Brien, Chem. Commun., 2005, 5696-5698. 

 

71   “Concise Synthesis (±)-Cytisine via Lithiation of N-Boc Bispidine”

D. Stead, P. O’Brien and A. J. Sanderson, Org. Lett., 2005, 7, 4459-4462. 

 

70   “Two-step syntheses of 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl aziridines”

J. Huang and P. O’Brien, Tetrahedron Lett., 2005, 46, 3253-3256. 

 

69   “Reductive Alkylation of b-Alkoxy Aziridines: New Route to Substituted Allylic Amines”

C. M. Rosser, S. C. Coote, J. P. Kirby, P. O’Brien and D. Caine, Org. Lett., 2004, 6, 4817-4819. 

 

68   “An experimental and computational study of the enantioselective lithiation of N-Boc pyrrolidine using sparteine-like chiral diamines”

P. O’Brien, K. B. Wiberg, W. F. Bailey, J.-P. R. Hermet and M. J. McGrath, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 15480-15489. 

 

67   “Chiral base route to functionalised cyclopentenyl amines: formal synthesis of the cyclopentene core of nucleoside Q”

S. J. Oxenford, P. O’Brien and M.R. Shipton, Tetrahedron Lett., 2004, 45, 9053-9055. 

 

66   “Crystal structures of (+)-sparteine surrogate adducts of methyllithium and phenyllithium”

C. Strohmann, K. Strohfeldt, D. Schildbach, M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, Organometallics, 2004, 23, 5389-5391. 

 

65   “Evaluation of (+)-Sparteine-like Diamines for Asymmetric Synthesis”

M. J. Dearden, M. J. McGrath and P. O’Brien, J. Org. Chem., 2004, 69, 5789-5792. 

 

64   “Concise asymmetric synthesis of (–)-sparteine”

J-P. R. Hermet, M. J. McGrath, P. O’Brien, D. W. Porter and J. Gilday, Chem. Commun., 2004, 1830-1831. 

 

63   “Lithium enolates from a (–)-quinic acid-derived cyclohexanone with a b-alkoxy leaving group: regioselective preparation and evaluation of enolate stability towards b-elimination”

L. M. Murray, P. O’Brien, R. J. K. Taylor and S. Wünnemann, Tetrahedron Lett., 2004, 45, 2596-2601. 

 

62   “cis- and trans-Stereoselective Epoxidation of N-Protected 2-Cyclohexen-1-yl Amines”

P. O’Brien, A. C. Childs, G. J. Ensor, C. L. Hill, J. P. Kirby, M. J. Dearden, S. J. Oxenford and C. M. Rosser, Org. Lett., 2003, 5, 4955-4957. 

 

61   “On the a-lithiation-rearrangement of N-toluenesulfonyl aziridines: mechanistic and synthetic aspects”

P. O’Brien, C. M. Rosser and D. Caine, Tetrahedron, 2003, 59, 9779-9791. 

 

60   “Synthesis of sparteine-like chiral diamines and evaluation in the enantioselective lithiation-substitution of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine”

J-P. R. Hermet, D. W. Porter, M. J. Dearden, J. R. Harrison, T. Koplin, P. O’Brien, J. Parmene, V. Tyurin, A. C. Whitwood, J. Gilday and N. M. Smith, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2003, 1, 3977-3988. 

 

59   “a-Lithiation-rearrangement of N-toluenesulfonyl aziridines with sec-butyllithium and (–)-sparteine: opposite sense of asymmetric induction to epoxides”

P. O’Brien, C. M. Rosser and D. Caine, Tetrahedron Lett., 2003, 44, 6613-6615. 

 

58   “Stereoselective Reactions of a (–)-Quinic Acid-Derived Enone: Application to the Synthesis of the Core of Scyphostatin”

L. M. Murray, P. O’Brien and R. J. K. Taylor, Org. Lett., 2003, 5, 1943-1946. 

 

57   “Chiral lithium amide base-mediated rearrangement of meso-cyclohexene oxides: asymmetric synthesis of amino- and aziridinocyclohexenols”

P. O’Brien and C. D. Pilgram, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2003, 1, 523-534. 

 

56   “An azetidinium ion approach to 3-aryloxy-3-aryl-1-propanamines”

P. O’Brien, D. W. Phillips and T. D. Towers, Tetrahedron Lett., 2002, 43, 7333-7335. 

 

55   “A Readily-Accessible (+)-Sparteine Surrogate”

M. J. Dearden, C. R. Firkin, J-P. R. Hermet and P. O’Brien, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124, 11870-11871. 

 

54   “Optimisation of Enantioselectivity for the Chiral Base-mediated Rearrangement of Bis-protected meso-4,5-Dihydroxycyclohexene Oxides: Asymmetric Synthesis of 4-Deoxyconduritols and Conduritol F”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien and C. D. Pilgram, Tetrahedron, 2002, 58, 4643-4654. 

 

53   “Diastereocontrolled Synthesis of trans- and cis-meso-Cyclopentene Aziridines”

D. Caine, P. O'Brien and C. M. Rosser, Org. Lett., 2002, 4, 1923-1926. 

 

52   “Synthesis and reactions of cyclopentadiene monoaziridine: a concise approach to the core of agelastatin A”

E. Baron, P. O'Brien and T. D. Towers, Tetrahedron Lett., 2002, 43, 723-726. 

 

51   “Diamine Synthesis: Exploring the Regiochemistry of Ring Opening of Aziridinium Ions”

P. O'Brien and T. D. Towers, J. Org. Chem., 2002, 67, 304-307. 

 

50   “Chiral base route to cyclic polyols: asymmetric synthesis of aminodeoxyconduritols and conduritol F”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien and C. D. Pilgram, Tetrahedron Lett., 2001, 42, 8081-8083. 

 

49   “Asymmetric Synthesis of N-Substituted (R)-2-[(Pyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl]pyrrolidines”

J. R. Harrison and P. O'Brien, Synth. Commun., 2001, 31, 1155-1160. 

 

48   “The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of chiral meso-tetraarylmetalloporphyrins bearing meso-pentafluorophenyl groups”

S. P. Foxon, J. R. Lindsay Smith, P. O'Brien and G. Reginato, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 2001, 1145-1153. 

 

47   “Evaluation of a sparteine-like diamine for asymmetric synthesis”

J. R. Harrison, P. O'Brien, D. W. Porter and N. M. Smith, Chem. Commun., 2001, 1202-1203. 

 

46   “Practical One-Step Synthesis of Koga's Chiral Bases”

E. Cuthbertson, P. O'Brien and T. D. Towers, Synthesis, 2001, 693-695. 

 

45   “Stoichiometric asymmetric processes”

       P. O'Brien, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2001, 95-113. 

 

44   “New route to 4-aminocyclopenten-2-en-1-ols: synthesis and enantioselective rearrangement of 4-amino substituted cyclopentene oxides”

S. Barrett, P. O'Brien, H. C. Steffens, T. D. Towers and M. Voith, Tetrahedron, 2000, 56, 9633-9640. 

 

43   “Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclic b-Amino Acids”

P. O'Brien, D. W. Porter and N. M. Smith, Synlett, 2000, 1336-1338. 

 

42   “Bispidine-derived N-acyliminium ions in synthesis: stereocontrolled construction of the BCD rings of sparteine”

J. R. Harrison and P. O'Brien, Tetrahedron Lett., 2000, 41, 6167-6170. 

 

41   “Diastereoselective synthesis of sparteine analogues via lithiation-electrophilic quench of N-Boc bispidines”

J. R. Harrison and P. O'Brien, Tetrahedron Lett., 2000, 41, 6161-6165. 

 

40   “Diastereoselective epoxide rearrangements using lithium amide bases: first stereocontrolled synthesis of 4-deoxyconduritols”

A. Kee, P. O'Brien, C. D. Pilgram and S. T. Watson, Chem. Commun., 2000, 1521-1522. 

 

39   “Studies towards the preparation of sparteine-like diamines for asymmetric synthesis”

J. R. Harrison, P. O'Brien, D. W. Porter and N. M. Smith, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1999, 3623-3632. 

 

38   “Enantioselective rearrangement of a meso-cyclohexene oxide using norephedrine-derived chiral bases”

B. Colman, S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien, T. D. Towers and W. Watson, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 1999, 10, 4175-4182. 

 

37   “Synthesis and Enantioselective Rearrangement of meso-Aziridino Cyclohexene Oxides”

P. O'Brien and C. D. Pilgram, Tetrahedron Lett., 1999, 40, 8427-8430. 

 

36   “A New Norephedrine-derived Chiral Base for Epoxide Rearrangement Reactions”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien and H. C. Steffens, Tetrahedron Lett., 1999, 40, 8423-8425. 

 

35   “An efficient protocol for a Sharpless-style racemic dihydroxylation”

J. Eames, H. J. Mitchell, A. Nelson, P. O'Brien, S. Warren and P. Wyatt, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1999, 1095-1103. 

 

34   “Chiral base-mediated benzylic functionalisation of (alkyl benzyl ether)tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes: a structure-reactivity study”

S. E. Gibson (née Thomas), P. O'Brien, E. Rahimian and M. H. Smith, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1999, 909-912. 

 

33   “Asymmetric Aminohydroxylation: Scope, Limitations and Use in Synthesis”

P. O'Brien, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1999, 38, 326-329. 

 

32   “Stereoselective Epoxidation of Cyclic Alkenes Using m-CPBA and Oxone®/Trifluoroacetone – a Comparison”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien, C. D. Pilgram, D. Roder and T. D. Towers, Tetrahedron Lett., 1999, 40, 391-392. 

 

31   “Unexpected Effect of Protecting Group and Solvent on the Stereoselectivity of m-CPBA Epoxidation of Diprotected cis-4,5-Dihydroxycyclohexenes”

S. E. de Sousa, A. Kee, P. O'Brien and S. T. Watson, Tetrahedron Lett., 1999, 40, 387-390. 

 

30   “Mechanistic and synthetic aspects of stereoselective reactions of lithium derivatives of chiral phosphine oxides: X-ray crystal structure of (1R*,2S*,1'S*,2'R*)-1-(1'-diphenylphosphinoyl-2'-phenylpropyl)-2-phenylsulfanylcyclohexan-1-ol”

C. Guéguen, P. O'Brien, H. R. Powell, P. R. Raithby and S. Warren, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 3405-3417. 

 

29   “Synthesis and Enantioselective Rearrangement of 4-Amino-substituted Cyclopentene Oxides”

P. O'Brien, T. D. Towers and M. Voith, Tetrahedron Lett., 1998, 39, 8175-8178. 

 

28   “Asymmetric aminohydroxylation of substituted styrenes: applications in the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched arylglycinols and a diamine”

P. O'Brien, S. A. Osborne and D. D. Parker, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 2519-2526. 

 

27   “Chiral lithium amide base-mediated rearrangement of diprotected meso 4,5-dihydroxy cyclohexene oxides: enantioselective synthesis of (4R,5S)- and (4S,5R)-4,5-di(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)cyclohex-2-enone”

P. O'Brien and P. Poumellec, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 2435-2441. 

 

26   “Two expedient methods for the preparation of chiral diamines”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien and P. Poumellec, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 1483-1492. 

 

25   “Recent advances in the use of chiral lithium amide bases in synthesis”

P. O'Brien, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 1439-1457. 

 

24   “Asymmetric Aminohydroxylation of Substituted Styrenes Using t-Butyl Carbamate”

P. O'Brien, S. A. Osborne and D. D. Parker, Tetrahedron Lett., 1998, 39, 4099-4102. 

 

23   “Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Functionalised Cyclohexanes via the Lithium Amide-mediated Rearrangement of a meso-4,5-Disubstituted Cyclohexene Oxide”

P. O'Brien and J. J. Tournayre, Tetrahedron, 1997, 53, 17527-17542. 

 

22   “Two Step Synthesis of C2 Symmetric 2,3-Diarylalkyloxybenzaldehydes – A Mitsunobu Approach”

J. R. Lindsay Smith, P. O'Brien and G. Reginato, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 1997, 8, 3415-3420. 

 

21   “Two useful methods for the preparation of (R)- and (S)-N-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethanamine”

S. E. de Sousa, P. O'Brien and P. Poumellec, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 1997, 8, 2613-2618. 

 

20   “Aziridinium Ions from Phenylglycinol – A New Approach to the Synthesis of Chiral Diamines”

S. E. de Sousa and P. O'Brien, Tetrahedron Lett., 1997, 38, 4885-4888. 

 

19   “Cyclobutanone as an electrophile for lithiated phosphine oxides: “Internal Quench” Conditions”

C. Guéguen, P. O'Brien, S. Warren and P. Wyatt, J. Organomet. Chem., 1997, 529, 279-283. 

 

18   “Experimental and Molecular Orbital Calculational Study of the Stereoselective Horner-Wittig Reaction with Phosphine Oxides: Control of Stereoselectivity by Lithium”

D. R. Armstrong, D. Barr, M. G. Davidson, G. Hutton, P. O'Brien, R. Snaith and S. Warren, J. Organomet. Chem., 1997, 529, 29-33. 

 

17   “Investigation of the configurational stability of lithiated phosphine oxides using the Hoffmann test: X-ray structures of (2R*,3S*,4S*)-4-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-2-diphenylphosphinoyl-5-phenylpentan-3-ol and (2S*,4S*)-4-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-2-diphenylphosphinoyl-5-phenylpentan-3-one”

P. O'Brien, H. R. Powell, P. R. Raithby and S. Warren, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1997, 1031-1039. 

 

16   “Asymmetric Synthesis with Diphenylphosphine Oxides: Bicyclic Aminals and Oxazolidines as Chiral Auxiliaries”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 1996, 7, 3431-3444. 

 

15   “Investigation of the configurational stability of lithiated phosphine oxides using diastereomerically pure and enantiomerically enriched phosphine oxides”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1996, 2567-2573. 

 

14   “Chiral Base-mediated Rearrangement of meso-Cyclohexene Oxides to Allylic Alcohols”

P. O'Brien and P. Poumellec, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 8057-8058. 

 

13   “Chiral Phosphine Oxides and Chiral Esters in Stereoselective Intermolecular Acylation Reactions of Phosphine Oxides”

D. Cavalla, C. Guéguen, A. Nelson, P. O'Brien, M. G. Russell and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 7465-7468. 

 

12   “Highly Stereoselective Hydroxy-alkylation, Silylation and Alkylation Reactions of Lithium Derivatives of Chiral Phosphine Oxides”

C. Guéguen, H. J. Mitchell, P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 7461-7464. 

 

11   “Amino Acid Derived Thiane Oxide and Dioxide Systems as Disposable Templates: Synthesis of a-Amino Ketones, anti amino alcohols and an Amino Cyclopentenone”

M. P. Gamble, G. M. P. Giblin, J. G. Montana, P. O'Brien, T. P. Ockenden and R. J. K. Taylor, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 7457-7460. 

 

10   “Synthesis of R or S diphenylphosphinoyl hydroxy aldehydes and 1,2 diols using Mukaiyama's bicyclic aminal methodology and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1996, 2129-2138. 

 

9     “Stereocontrolled route to some optically active b-hydroxy phosphine oxides using the stereoselective addition of metallated phosphine oxides to proline-derived keto aminals”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1996, 2117-2127. 

 

8     “A Simple and Efficient Method for the Preparation of Homochiral Amines: Application to the Synthesis of a New C2 Symmetric Triamine”

P. O'Brien and P. Poumellec, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 5619-5622. 

 

7     “Cesium Fluoride-mediated Horner-Wittig Addition Reactions of Silyl Phosphine Oxides; Synthesis of Optically Active Silyl Phosphine Oxides Using Chiral Bases and a Chiral Acid”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Synlett, 1996, 579-581. 

 

6     “Synthesis of Phenylalanine-derived b-Hydroxy and b-Keto Phosphine Oxides – Investigation of the Configurational Stability of Lithiated Phosphine Oxides Using the Hoffmann Test”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 4271-4274. 

 

5     “Norephedrine-derived Oxazolidines as Chiral Auxiliaries – Stereocontrolled Routes to R or S b-Hydroxy Phosphine Oxides”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 3051-3054. 

 

4     “On the Configurational Stability of Lithiated Phosphine Oxides”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 8473-8476. 

 

3     “Asymmetric Dihydroxylations of Allylic Phosphine Oxides”

A. Nelson, P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 2685-2688. 

 

2     “Stereocontrolled Synthesis of R or S Diphenylphosphinoyl Hydroxy Aldehydes and 1,2 Diols Using Bicyclic Aminals”

P. O'Brien and S. Warren, Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 2681-2684. 

 

1     “An Efficient Protocol for a Sharpless Style Racemic Dihydroxylation”

J. Eames, H. J. Mitchell, A. Nelson, P. O'Brien, S. Warren and P. Wyatt, Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 1719-1722. 

 

Group Members

 POB Group Alumni

Current Group Memebers

  

PhD Students

Andres Gomez-Angel

Andres completed his chemistry and chemical engineering bachelor studies at Los Andes University in Colombia. He then undertook a MSc by research in the O'Brien group on the initial phase of the 3-D building block project. He has since returned to the O’Brien group for his PhD studies, supported by the Wild Fund. His project focuses on the development of 3-D building blocks for fragment elaboration in medicinal chemistry. His hobbies include playing tenor saxophone, building and repairing computers for his friends and cooking overly complicated meals.

 

Lucy Tomczyk

Lucy obtained her Mchem degree from the University of York, spending the final year in the O’Brien group working on a new synthetic route to (–)-quinine. She then returned to York to begin a Ph.D. (EPSRC iCASE), supervised by Professor Peter O’Brien and Professor Ian Fairlamb, focusing on the stereospecific C(sp³)-C(sp²) Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of heterocyclic boronates. In her spare time Lucy enjoys sewing, baking and playing card games with friends. 

 

Stuart McHale

Stuart completed his MChem (with medicinal chemistry) degree at Newcastle University (2017-2021) working in the research project group of Dr Kate Madden investigating small molecule analogues of berberine as potential therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases. He also carried out an industrial placement (2019-2020) with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) working on in-line analysis for continuous twin-screw wet granulation. In 2021 he took a PhD position co-supervised by Peter O’Brien and Ian Fairlamb and is currently working on stereospecific C(sp³)-C(sp²) Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings of saturated heterocyclic boronates.

 

Stuart Smith

 

Stuart obtained an Integrated Masters degree in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Glasgow in 2021. He completed several research placements during this time (mainly in molecular genetics and chemical automation), as well as a placement year at GlaxoSmithKline. In October 2021, he joined the Department of chemistry at the University of York to complete a PhD under the supervision of Professors Ian Fairlamb and Peter O'Brien. His work involves automating exploration of the chemical space of C(sp³)-C(sp²) Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings, in conjunction with statistical and machine learning approaches, to facilitate reaction development and aid mechanistic understanding of this challenging reaction for industrial pharmaceutical applications.

 

Xinyu Wang

Xinyu obtained his bachelor and Master's degree in China. He worked as a synthetic chemist in the CRO industry for 5 years. He joined the O'Brien group in 2022 under the support of CSC (China Scholarship Council). His project focuses on the fragment-based lead generation of small molecule inhibitors of the Nsp3 macrodomain in SARS-CoV-2.

 

Will Butler

Will obtained his MChem degree from the University of York, spending the final year in the O’Brien group developing fragment-based small molecule inhibitors of the Nsp3 Macrodomain in SARS-CoV-2. Will then returned to York to undertake a Ph.D., supervised by Professor Peter O’Brien, focusing on new 3-D building blocks for fragment elaboration in medicinal chemistry, as well as returning to the aforementioned Nsp3 Macrodomain project. Outside of the lab, Will enjoys running, bouldering, photography and a good pint.

 

Yuran Wang

Yuran completed his BSc in chemistry and MRes in Organic chemistry: Drug discovery at University College London, investigating novel inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. In January 2023, he joined the O’Brien Group for his PhD. His project is on 3-D fragment elaboration in conjunction with fragment-based drug discovery of inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp3 Macrodomain. In his free time, Yuran enjoys ice skating, video games, and board games such as weiqi and chess.

 

 

Masters Students

Islam Araar

Islam obtained a 1st Class Honours degree from Kingston University in Pharmaceutical Sciences and was awarded for top performance. Research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Wren in his final year developing synthetic methodologies for accessing bioactive fluorenes. In 2022, Islam joined the O’Brien group as a MSc by research student, working on the elaboration of fragment hits in 3D to produce medicinally relevant compounds. His academic interests include synthetic organic chemistry, process chemistry, natural products, & pharmaceutics. Outside of the lab, Islam enjoys doing many sports including weight lifting, long/short distance running and Judo.