CONTACT INFORMATION

Isaac Krauss
Edison-Lecks 126
781-736-2574
kraussi@brandeis.edu

Isaac Krauss

Isaac Krauss

Isaac Krauss

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Columbia University

Our group is devoted to the study of organic synthesis, including its interface with other areas of chemical science, including organometallics and chemical biology.

At the interface with organometallic chemistry, we are focused on the use of organometallic reagents and catalysts for enantioselective construction of high-value organic structural motifs. Although a great deal of useful chemistry has been demonstrated using expensive and toxic heavy metals, we strive to utilize inexpensive and non-toxic metals where possible.

Figure 1Additionally, we are interested in the synthesis of structurally complex natural products with interesting biological activity. To this end we employ new reactions, but also seek to demonstrate underutilized aspects of familiar reactions.

At the interface with chemical biology, we are using the tools of organic synthesis to enable us to study the role which carbohydrates play in successful immune responses against HIV. This work is targeted at the design and chemical synthesis of an HIV vaccine.

Figure 2

Sample of Recent Publications

  1. "A New Model for the Presentation of Tumor-Associated Antigens and the Quest for an Anticancer Vaccine: A Solution to the Synthesis Challenge via Ring-Closing Metathesis" Insik Jeon, Dongjoo Lee, Isaac J. Krauss and Samuel J. Danishefsky J. Am. Chem. Soc., Articles ASAP

  2. "Enzyme-Instructed Molecular Self-assembly Confers Nanofibers and a Supramolecular Hydrogel of Taxol Derivative"Yuan Gao, Yi Kuang, Zu-Feng Guo, Zhihong Guo, Isaac J. Krauss and Bing Xu J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131 (38), 13576-13577.

  3. “An Oligosaccharide-based HIV-1 2G12 Mimotope Vaccine Induces Carbohydrate-specific Antibodies that Fail to Neutralize HIV-1 Virions” Joyce, J. G.; Krauss, I. J.; Song, H. C.; Opalka, D. W.; Grimm, K. M.; Nahas, D. D.; Esser, M. T.; Hrin, R.; Feng, M.; Dudkin, V.; Chastain, M. C.; Shiver, J. W.; Danishefsky, S. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2008 105, 15684–9.

  4. “Total Synthesis of Spirotenuipesines A and B” Dai, M.; Krauss, I. J.; Danishefsky, S. J. J. Org. Chem. 2008 , 73, 9576–83.

  5.  “Fully Synthetic Carbohydrate HIV Antigens Designed on the Logic of the 2G12 Antibody” Krauss, I. J; Joyce, J G.; Finnefrock, A. C.; Song, H. C.; Dudkin, V. Y.; Geng, X.; Warren, J. D.; Chastain, M.; Shiver, J. W.; Danishefsky, S. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 11042-4.

  6. “Total Synthesis of Isomigrastatin” Krauss, I. J.; Mandal, M.; Danishefsky, S. J. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 5576-83.

  7.  “Highly Practical and Enantioselective Cu-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Alkylzinc Reagents to Cyclic Enones at Ambient Temperature” Krauss, I. J.; Leighton, J. L., Org. Lett., 2003, 5, 3201-3.

  8.  “Highly Regioselective and Diastereoselective Directed Hydroformylation of Allylic Ethers: A New Approach to Propionate Aldol Synthesis” Krauss, I. J.; Wang, C. C. Y.; Leighton, J. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 11514-5.