Jean-Luc G. MONTCHAMP

Associate Professor (Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry)

J.MONTCHAMP@TCU.EDU

Phone: (817) 257 6201 / Fax: (817) 257 5851

Ph.D., Purdue University
Postdoctoral, Michigan State University, The Scripps Research Institute, Purdue University

FUNDING: we gratefully acknowledge the following for the financial support of our research.

NSF
NIH / National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Our group's research interests are in the areas of organophosphorus chemistry, and bioorganic/medicinal chemistry. The core of our program in chemical biology focuses on the mechanism-based design, synthesis and evaluation of biologically active molecules such as enzyme inhibitors, and the development of novel antisense oligonucleotides with emphasis on the application of automated synthesis and combinatorial techniques whenever possible. Unnatural compounds are synthesized to probe various biological processes. Applications of this research range from the elucidation of enzyme mechanisms to the preparation of molecules with potential medicinal use (anticancer, antiparasite, immuno suppressant, antisense, GABA analogues). One such medicinally oriented goal is the preparation and evaluation of new hydrolytically stable antisense oligonucleotides for sequence specific complexation to RNA and DNA targets. Finally, current investigations aiming at the modulation of GABA receptors with phosphinic analogues are relevant to the treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. A collaborative project with Professor Coffer has also been initiated to prepare the recognition component of biocompatible calcified nanoporous silicon sensor arrays.

Our second research interest concerns organophosphorus chemistry and is driven by two main objectives: firstly, the development of P-chiral ligands to be ultimately used in catalytic asymmetric transformations, including transition metal-catalyzed reactions, and secondly, the building of a methodology based on phosphorus compounds for organic synthesis as well as for the preparation of compounds possessing potential biological activity.
Our program toward the development of new methodology for the synthesis of phosphinic acids has led to several novel reactions, including the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of hypophosphite derivatives with aryl, benzylic, and alkenyl electrophiles, and the room temperature radical addition of hypophosphites to olefins. These reactions are applied to the synthesis of biologically active compounds, and to the preparation of P-chiral building blocks.
Combining the above research directions in the same program provides valuable advantages. Because phosphorus is ubiquitous in nature, a variety of molecules can be designed to achieve some specific biological effect. To achieve the efficient synthesis of such compounds, new synthetic routes will be required, which could borrow from independently developed methodologies. In general, a combination of organic synthesis, methodology, and chemical biology, will be used to pursue our objectives.

Methodological Summary

PUBLICATIONS

“AIBN-initiated Radical Reactions of Ethyl Phosphinate” Antczak, M. I.; Montchamp, J.-L. Synthesis 2006, In press.

“Advances in the Synthesis of H-Phosphinic Acids and Esters” Montchamp, J.-L. Specialty Chemicals Magazine 2006, 26, 44.

"Direct Monoalkylation of Alkyl Phosphinates to Access H-Phosphinic Acid Esters”
Abrunhosa-Thomas, I.; Ribière, P.; Adcock, A. C.; Montchamp, J.-L. Synthesis 2006, 2, 325.

“Radical Reaction of Sodium Hypophosphite with Terminal Alkynes: Synthesis of 1,1-bis-H-Phosphinates”
Gouault-Bironneau, S.; Deprèle, S.; Sutor, A.; Montchamp, J.-L. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 5909.

“Palladium-Catalyzed Phosphorus-Carbon Bond Formation: Cross-Coupling Reactions of Alkyl Phosphinates with Aryl, Heteroaryl, Alkenyl, Benzylic, and Allylic Halides and Triflates”
Bravo-Altamirano, K.; Huang, Z.; Montchamp, J.-L. Tetrahedron 2005, 61, 6315.

"NiCl2-Catalyzed Hydrophosphinylation", Ribiere, P.; Bravo-Altamirano, K.; Antczak, M. I.; Hawkins, J. D.; Montchamp, J.-L. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 4064.

"Recent Advances in Phosphorus-Carbon Bond Formation: Synthesis of H-Phosphinic Acid Derivatives from Hypophosphorous Compounds", Montchamp, J.-L. J. Organomet. Chem., 2005, 690, 2388