CONTACT INFORMATION
James Hendrickson
781-736-2520
hendrickson@brandeis.edu
James Hendrickson
James Hendrickson
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Harvard University
The synthesis of organic molecules has long been a major activity of organic chemistry, closely linked to biochemistry for it involves the synthesis of natural products and or test molecules for examining the parameters of biological reactions. Nevertheless, it is astonishing how little we know about the right way to design a synthesis of a new molecule. It is easily shown that there are literally millions of different routes possible, from different starting materials, for the synthesis of any substance of interest, but there has traditionally been no clear protocol to follow to design the best one before going into the laboratory to try it.
We have been engaged for some years in creating a logic for synthesis design, which has hitherto been only an art in the midst of the otherwise systematic science of organic chemistry. This has led to the creation of the computer program SYNGEN which embodies logical principles to provide the optimal synthetic sequences for any target molecule, and has already had considerable success. This program of computerizing organic chemistry logic welcomes young professionals with an interest in combining the expertise of computers with that of organic chemistry. Furthermore, it is of particular interest also for those who wish to pursue the laboratory execution of these syntheses, since they may expect to derive especially short routes to molecules of biological or medical interest from the computer and pursue these in the laboratory.
Parallel to the development of the SYNGEN program at the computer, we have also a program in the laboratory for short syntheses of various different natural products such as morphine, lysergic acid, vitamin A, steroids, strychnine and other indole alkaloids. For all of these we have created synthetic routes notably shorter and more efficient that those which have already been done, following our aim in showing the importance of an optimal synthesis plan.
Selected Publications
Hendrickson, J.B., DeVries J.G. 1982. A Convergent Total Synthesis of the Coenzyme Methoxatin. J. Org. Chem 47: 1148.
Hendrickson, J.B. Hussoin, Md.S. 1987. Seeking the Ideal Dehydrating Agent. J. Org. Chem. 52: 4137.
Hendrickson, J.B. 1990. Organic Synthesis in the Age of Computers. Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 29: 1286.
Hendrickson, J.B. 1992. Descriptions of Reactions: their logic and applications. Rec. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas 111: 323.
Hendrickson, J.B., Sander, T. 1995. COGNOS: A Beilstein-type System for Organizing Organic Reactions. Eur. J. Chem. 1: 449.
Hendrickson, J.B.,Shih, I-L. 1997. A New Approach to the Synthesis of Cortical Steroids, J. Chinese Chem. Soc. 44: 133.
Hendrickson, J.B. 1997. Teaching Alternative Syntheses: The Syngen Program," p. 214-231 in "Green Chemistry," ed. P. T. Anastas and T. C. Williamson, ACS Symposium Series #626.
Hendrickson, J.B., Walker, M.A. 2000. A Two-Component Pericyclic Reaction for Synthesis. Org. Letters 2: 2729-2731.
Computer Programs
WebReactions.net
Syngen2.chem.brandeis.edu