Chemistry is the called the central science because it not only impacts virtually all fields of science and technology but also because it is a central contributor to the modern life that society enjoys. The PhD Program in Chemistry at the City University of New York (CUNY) provides students with a strong foundation in all areas of chemistry: analytical, biological, inorganic, materials, nano, organic, polymer, and physical.

Chemistry

Research Areas

• Analytical Chemistry • Inorganic Chemistry • Organometallic Chemistry • Biochemistry • Materials Chemistry • Polymer Chemistry • Biophysics • Medicinal Chemistry • Photochemistry • Chemical Biology • Nanoscience • Physical Chemistry • Computational Chemistry • Organic Chemistry • Radiochemistry

CUNY  Chemistry        •  Diverse  faculty        •  100+  faculty  mentors        •  250  papers  per  year    Interdisciplinary  efforts        •  Molecular  biophysics        •  Radiochemistry        •  Nanotechnology        •  Photonics        •  Medicinal  chemistry  

CUNY prides itself on the diversity of its faculty and students. Each student choses a research mentor from over 100 members of the CUNY doctoral faculty in Chemistry. These mentors are distributed among seven CUNY campuses and the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center that fosters interdisciplinary interactions. A flexible curriculum allows each student to personalize the coursework to their specific needs. Additional training in professionalism, safety, pedagogy, and career opportunities are provided to ensure your career success.

All students admitted to the PhD Program in Chemistry are awarded a CUNY Science Scholarship. This five-year award allows our student to concentrate on their research. CUNY Science Scholars spend the first year at the CUNY Graduate Center taking courses and learning about the research opportunities available to them. There is no teaching in year one. Students select a mentor and move to their mentors campus by the end of year one.

CUNY Science Scholars

Student comments The   chemistry   Ph.D  program  at   CUNY  has   allowed  me   to   pursue  my   interest.   I   have   greatly  benefited  from  my  experience  with  my  mentor,  professors  and  fellow  students.  

     Zhantong Mao (PhD 2015)   CUNY   is   dense   with   fantasLc   faculty,   administrators   and   fellow   students   that   collecLvely  engender  a  strong  likelihood  of  success.  

       Douglas Achan (PhD 2015)

CUNY Science Scholarship • five year support package • competitive stipend • low-cost health insurance • tuition remission

Years 2-5 are spent at a CUNY campus focused on their dissertation research and perhaps teaching.

CUNY offers s tudents the opportunity to do cutting-edge chemical research in a supportive program that has the feel of a small college while living in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. The PhD Program in Chemistry is unique amongst its peers in that it is a consor t ium of seven campuses throughout New York City. While all student receive their degree from the CUNY Graduate Center, they do their research at one of the CUNY colleges or the Advanced Science Research Center. The size of CUNY offers the resources to do world-class science while working at a campus with a small college feel.

World-Class Science + Intimate Setting

Research Centers The   jewel   in  the  crown  of  CUNY’s  mulL-­‐billion  dollar   investment   in   interdisciplinary  scienLfic  research   is   the   CUNY   Advanced   Science   Research   Center   (hTp://asrc.cuny.edu).     Brimming  with   state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art   instrumentaLon   and   experLse   in   nanoscience,   structural   biology,  photonics,   environmental   science,   and   neuroscience,   it   is   open   to   all   CUNY   students   and  faculty.     This   collaboraLve   resource   augments   the   resources   and   instrumentaLon   found   on  each   of   the   CUNY   campuses.     In   addiLon,   students   further   their   research   efforts   using   the  CUNY  High  Performance  CompuLng  Center  (hTp://www.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/).

Participating Colleges • Brooklyn College • City College of New York • College of Staten Island • Hunter College • Lehman College • Queens College • York College

Publications A.  Singh, M.K., Akula, H.K., Satishkumar, S.,

Stahl, L., Lakshman, M.K. Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation Approach to Azolyl Aminals and Hemiaminal Ethers, Mechanistic Evaluations, and Isomer Interconversion ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 1921-1928.

B.  Mahendran, A., Ghogare, A.A., Bittman, R., Arthur, G., Greer, A. Synthesis and antiproliferative properties of a new ceramide analog of varacin (2016) Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, 2016, 194, 165-170.

C.  Altiti, A.S., Mootoo, D.R. C-glycosphingolipid precursors via iodocyclization of homoallyic t r ich loroacet imidates Carbohydrate Research, 2015, 407, 148-153.

Research Areas • Organic Synthesis • Catalysis • Carbohydrate chemistry • Bioorganic Chemistry • Organometallic Chemistry • Synthetic methodology • Medicinal Chemistry • Materials Science • Natural products

Organic chemistry research at CUNY involves over 25 faculty covering the full range of modern organic chemistry from total synthesis of natural products, to novel method development, to materials and medicinal applications. Faculty have received prestigious national awards including Fulbright Fellowships and the Harry Wasser Award. Our graduates go on to successful post-doctoral positions, careers in industry (Merck; GlaxoSmithKline; LivWell) and academia (Emory University, North Dakota State University).

Organic Chemistry Prof. Stephen Fearnley, Subdiscipline Chair fearnley@york.cuny.edu  

Mark R. Biscoe Assistant Professor of Chemistry The City College of New York 160 Convent Ave. New York, NY 10031 mbiscoe@ccny.cuny.edu http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~mbiscoe/index.html

Publications Li, L.; Zhao, S.; Joshi-Pangu, A.; Diane, M.; Biscoe, M. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 14027-14030. Li, L; Wang, C.-Y.; Huang, R.; Biscoe, M. R. Nature Chem. 2013, 5, 607-612. Joshi-Pangu, A.; Biscoe, M. R. Synlett 2012, 23, 1103-1107. Joshi-Pangu, A.; Ma, X.; Diane, M.; Iqbal, S.; Kribs, R.; Huang, R.; Wang, C.-Y.; Biscoe, M. R. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 6629-6633. Joshi-Pangu, A.; Wang, C.-Y.; Biscoe, M. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 8478-8481. Joshi-Pangu, A.; Ganesh, M.; Biscoe, M. R. Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 1218-1221.

Research Interests Keywords: Transition metal catalysis, Organic synthesis, Asymmetric synthesis Broadly, research in the Biscoe group focuses on catalysis. The two major types of catalysis in which we are interested are transition metal catalysis and macromolecular catalysis. Our primary goals involve the development of practical and reliable processes for the construction of C–C and C–X (X = heteroatom) bonds. We are particularly interested in the development of new processes for the formation of common structural motifs of importance in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.

Prof. Biscoe is an organic/organometal l ic chemist i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f n e w reaction methodologies for a p p l i c a t i o n i n d r u g discovery.

2009- current Professor, City College of New York 2005-2008 NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT 2000-2005 PhD, Columbia University

Dr. Mark R. Biscoe

Elise Champeil Associate Professor John Jay College of Criminal Justice 524 west 59th street New York, NY10019 echampeil@jjay.cuny.edu http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/elise-champeil

Publications Champeil E., Sapse A.M “Synthesis of a Mitomycin C-Lexitropsin Hybrid”. Comptes rendus des Séances de l’Académie Francaise, 17, 2014 1190. Champeil E., Paz M., Lukasiewicz E., Kong W., Watson S., Sapse A.M.“Synthesis of a major m i t o m y c i n C D N A a d d u c t v i a a triaminomitosene”. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 22, 2012 7198. Lesar C.T., Decatur J., Luckasiewicz E., Champeil E.“ Identi f icat ion of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) in beverages using NMR and the PURGE so lven t -suppress ion technique”. Forensic Science International,212, 2011 40. Weng M-W, Zheng Y., Jasti V.P., Champeil E., Tomasz M., Wang Y., Basu A.K., Tang M.-S. “Repair of mitomycin C mono- and interstrand cross-linked DNA adducts by UvrABC: a new model”, Nucleic Acid Research, 38, 2010 6976. Liu J., Proni G., Champeil E. “Identification and quant i ta t ion o f 3 ,4-methy lened ioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in human urine by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Application to five cases of intoxication”, Forensic Science International, 194, 2010 103.

Research Interests Synthesis of Mitomycin C and Decarbamoyl mitomycin C DNA adducts: Our aim is to synthesize DNA interstrand crosslinks generated by decarbamoyl mitomycin C (DMC) and mitomycin C (MC) (MC α-ICL and DMC β-ICLs). In addition, the role of p21 in the upstream p53-independent signaling pathway in response to these crosslinks is examined. Analysis of drugs (recreational and medicinal) in bio fluids using NMR spectroscopy.

Prof. Champeil is a synthetic chemist interested in the DNA alkylating drug Mitomycin C (MC). She synthesized MC-DNA Interstrand crosslinks to determine how the local structure of these adducts is responsible for the different b i o c h e m i c a l r e s p o n s e s produced by cancer cells upon treatment.

2014- 2010 Current position 2006-2010 Assistant professor (John Jay College) 2003-2006 Postdoc (CUNY) 2002 PhD, Trinity College, Ireland

Dr. Elise Champeil

Yu Chen Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Queens College 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing NY Yu.chen1@qc.cuny.edu http://chem.qc.cuny.edu/~ychen/homepage.htm

Publications Das, S.; Hong, D.; Chen, Z.; She, Z.; Hersh, W. H.; Subramaniam, G.; Chen, Y. “Auto-Tandem Palladium Catalysis: From Isoxazole to 2-Azafluorenone”, Org. Lett., 2015, 17, 5578-5581. Domaradzki, M. E.; Long, Y.; She, Z.; Liu, X.; Zhang, G.; Chen, Y. “Gold-Catalyzed Ammonium Acetate Assisted Cascade Cyclization of 2-Alkynylarylketones”, J. Org. Chem., 2015, 80, 11360-11368. Chen, Y.; Huang, C.; Liu, X.; Perl, E.; Chen, Z.; Namgung, J.; Subramaniam, G.; Zhang, G.; H e r s h , W . H . “ S y n t h e s i s o f Dibenzocyclohepten-5-ones by Electrophilic Iodocyclization of 1-([1,1'-Biphenyl]-2-yl)-alkynones”, J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 3452-3464. Chen, Y.; Liu, X.; Lee, M.; Huang, C.; Inoyatov, I.; Chen, Z.; Perl, A. C.; Hersh, W. H. “ICl-Induced Intramolecular Electrophilic Cyclization of 1-(4'-Methoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)-alkynones—A Facile Approach to Spiroconjugated Molecules”, Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 9795-9799. Long, Y.; She, Z.; Liu, X.; Chen, Y. “Synthesis of 1-Aminoisoquinolines by Gold(III)-Mediated Domino Reactions from 2-Alkynylbenzamides and Ammonium Acetate”, J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 2579-2588. Research Interests

Keywords:  late  transiLon  metal  catalysis,  heterocyclic  chemistry,  asymmetric  catalysis    The  Chen  group  is  working  in  the  area  of  late  transiLon  metal  mediated  catalysis,  heterocyclic  chemistry   and   asymmetric   catalysis.   They   have   been   developing   new   syntheLc  methods   for  biologically  interesLng  frameworks  using  Lewis  acid  mediated  transformaLons  of  alkynes,  and  have  successfully  developed  new  atom-­‐economical  routes  for  the  synthesis  of  a  variety  of  core  structures,   including   isoxazoles,   2-­‐azafluorenones,   isoquinolines,   indenones,  dibenzocyclohepten-­‐5-­‐ones,  and  etc.  

T h e C h e n g r o u p i s interested in late transition metal catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry and asymmetric catalysis.

2009-current Current position 2007-2009 Postdoc 1999-2004 PhD

Dr Yu Chen

Publications Fernández-Gallardo, J. et al. Versatile Synthesis of Cationic N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Gold(I) Complexes Containing a Second Ancillary Ligand. Design of Heterobimetallic Ruthenium-Gold Anticancer Agents’. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 3155-3158. Contel, M. et al. Titanocene Gold Derivatives Comprising Thiolato Ligands. US Patent 20,150,353,591 (2016). Frik, M. et al. ‘Cyclometalated Iminophosphorane Gold(III) and Platinum (II) Complexes. A Highly Permeable cationic Platinum (II) Compound with Promising Anticancer Properties’. J. Med. Chem. 2015, 58, 5825-5841. Fernández-Gallardo, J. et al. ‘Heterometallic titanium-gold complexes inhibit renal cancer cells in vitro an in vivo.’ Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 5269-5283. Frik, M. et al. In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Water-soluble Iminophosphorane Ruthenium(II) Compounds. A Potential Chemotherapeutic Agent for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. J. Med. Chem. 2014, 57, 9995–10012.  

Research Interests

Keywords: Organometallic, Cancer, Antimicrobial, Gold Catalysis, Water-soluble, C-C and C-Heteroatom Bond formation Our group is focused on the synthesis of metallodrugs as anticancer and antimicrobial agents with a special interest on heterometallic gold-based compounds. We study the biological activity and possible mode of action of the compounds (in our own cell culture room). We use gold derivatives in homogeneous catalysis and we study the possible mechanism of these catalysts by using different techniques.

M a r i a C o n t e l i s a n inorganic/organometall ic synthetic chemist. Her main interests lie on the rational design of metallodrugs and homogeneous catalysts.

2011- current Associate Professor Brooklyn College 2006-2010 Assistant Professor Brooklyn College 2001-2006 Senior Researcher CSIC-University of

Zaragoza, Spain 1999-2000 Postdoc University of Utrecht, Holland 1997-1999 Postdoc Australian National University, Australia 1993-1996 PhD Public University of Navarra, Spain

Dr. Maria Contel

Maria Contel Associate Professor Brooklyn College 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY mariacontel@broklyn.cuny.edu http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/mariacontel/

Ruel Z. B. Desamero Associate Professor York College, the Institute of Macromolecular Assembly, and the Graduate Center 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11451 rdesamero@york.cuny.edu www.cuny.edu/xxxx

Publications Mojica, E., J. Vedad, and R.Z.B. Desamero (2015) “Vibrational Analysis of α-Cyanohydroxycinnamic acid” Journal of Molecular Structure (in press). Profit, A.A., J. Vedad, M. Saleh and R.Z.B. Desamero (2015) “Aromaticity and Amyloid Formation: Effect of π-Electron Distribution and Aryl Substituent Geometry on the Self-Assembly of Peptides Derived from hIAPP22-29 “ Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 567: 46-58. Nie, B., H. Deng, R.Z.B. Desamero and R. Callender (2013) “Large Scale Dynamics of the Michaelis Complex in Bacillus stearothermophilus Lactate Dehydrogenase Revealed by Single Tryptophan Mutants Study” Biochemistry 52: 1886-1892. Profit, A.A., V. Felsen, J. Chinwong, E.-R. Mojica, and R.Z.B. Desamero (2013) “Evidence of π-stacking Interactions in the Self-assembly of hIAPP22-29” PROTEINS: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics 81: 690-703. Deng, H., D.V. Vu, K. Clinch, R. Desamero, R.B. Dryer and R. Callender (2011) “Conformational Heterogeneity Within the Michaelis Complex of Lactate Dehydrogenase” Journal of Physical Chemistry B 115: 7670-7678.

Research Interests Keywords: vibrational spectroscopy; fluorescence; circular dichroism; temperature-jump techniques; structural biology; protein biochemistry; enzymology My research is centered on investigating the structural and dynamical aspects of protein-small molecule interactions using techniques such as vibrational spectroscopy and temperature-jump relaxation. One aspect of the work is to understand at the molecular level how protein systems work. Enzyme-substrate interactions have long been recognized as representing an extreme expression of structural complementarities in biological chemistry. Basic research geared towards understanding the inner workings of an enzyme system is important if cures for the diseases caused by a malfunctioning or deficient enzyme are to be found. We have also started investigating the mechanism behind amyloid formation with the goal of synthesizing peptide inhibitors that diminish protein aggregation.

D r . D e s a m e r o i s a spectroscopist by training cur rent ly invest iga t ing protein-ligand interaction as well as protein-protein aggregation using various techniques.

2010 - current Associate Professor, York College - CUNY 2003 - 2010 Assistant Professor, York College - CUNY 2000 - 2002 Postdoc, Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1998 - 2000 Postdoc, City College - CUNY 1998 PhD, University of Connecticut

Dr. Ruel Desamero

name Position: Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Affiliation: Queens College of CUNY Address: 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, NY 11367 Email: robert.engel@qc.cuny.edu

Publications J. Hatcher, F. Zavurov, L. Babukutty, T. strekas, and R. Engel, “Polycations. XXII. Ru(bpy)2L2 and Ru(phen)2L2 Systems with Cationic 4,4’-Bipyridine Ligands: Syntheses, Characteristics, and Interactions with DNA,” Amer. Chem. Sci. J., 9, 1-7 (2015). S.I. Lall-Ramnarine, J.A Mukhlall, J.F. Wishart, R.R. Engel, A.R. Romeo, M. Gohdo, S. Ramati, M. Berman, and S. Suarez, "Cyclic Phosphonium Ionic Liquids," Beilstein J. Org, Chem., 10, 271-275 (2014). L. Babukutty, E. Moskovic, D. Wadler, T. Strekas, and R. Engel, "Polycations. XX. New Monodentate Cationic Ligands and Their Coordination with Ruthenium for the Construction of Complexes Expressing Enhanced Interaction with DNA," Organic Chemistry International, Article ID 282137, Volume 2012. R. Engel, "Glycoside based ionic liquids," in Ionic Liquids, Chapter 3, S. Handy, ed., In-Tech, Rijeka, Croatia (2011).

Research Interests Keywords: Polycationic organic salts, alternative antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral systems, organophosphorus syntheses and mechanisms, antitumor agents.

We have been engaged for quite a few years in the p r e p a r a t i o n o f antimicrobial agents that avoid the problems of resistance associated with antibiotic materials. See http: / /www.qc.cuny.edu/Academics/Degrees/DMNS/P a g e s /ENGEL_Research_Interests.aspx

1968- current Current position: Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry 1966-1968 Postdoc: US Army 1966 PhD: Penn State

Dr. Robert Engel

Stephen Philip Fearnley Associate Professor Department of Chemistry CUNY-York College 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Jamaica NY 11451 sfearnley@gc.cuny.edu www.york.cuny.edu/portal_college/sfearnley  

Publications S. P. Fearnley* & P. M. Lory, “A concise synthesis of (±)-3-deoxyisoaltholactone” Tetrahedron Lett., 2014 55, 5207-5209. S. P. Fearnley* & C. Thongsornkleeb, “Oxazolone Cycloadducts as Heterocyclic Scaffolds for Alkaloid Construction: Synthesis of (±)-2-epi-Pumiliotoxin C”J. Org. Chem. 2010 75, 933-936. S. P. Fearnley* & P. M. Lory, “Intramolecular Vinylsilane–Oxocarbenium Condensations – Concise Assembly of cis-Bicyclic Ether Arrays”Org. Lett. 2007 9, 3507-3510. S. P. Fearnley*, "2-(3H)-oxazolone – A Simple Heterocycle with Manifold Potential” Current Organic Chemistry; Volume 8, Asymmetric Synthesis" 2004 8, 1289-1338. S. P. Fearnley* & M. W. Tidwell, "Cyclization of Aryl Silanes with Unexpected Retention of Silicon”Org. Lett. 2002 4, 3797-3798. S. P. Fearnley* & E. Market, “Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reactions of N-Substituted Oxazolones”Chem. Commun. 2002 438-439.

Research Interests Keywords: Organic Synthesis • Organic Reactions • Natural Products

• Investigation & use of oxazolone as a useful heterocyclic scaffold for alkaloid synthesis - studies of intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions with oxazolone as dienophile.

• Novel organosilane chemistry for approaches to bioactive ethers - concise assembly of cis-fused bicyclic ether arrays via intramolecular attack of vinylsilanes at tethered oxocarbenium ions. A related silyl-activated Friedel-Krafts process requires an unusual combination of electronic & steric effects.

• Recently completed targets include 2-epi-pumiliotoxin C & deoxyaltholactone. Similar approaches to gephyrotoxin & dysiherbaine are underway.

As a synthetic organic chemis t , my research involves development of new methodology for the construction of bioactive natural products: alkaloids, cyclic ether arrays, & C-glycosides.

2003- current York College 1999-2003 Lamar University 1998-1999 Postdoc, Penn State: Mike Coleman 1995-1997 Postdoc, Penn State: Ray Funk 1992-1994 Postdoc, Virginia Tech: Tomas Hudlicky 1988-1992 Ph.D., University of Salford, U.K.

Dr Stephen Philip Fearnley

Name: Alexander Greer Position: Professor Affiliation: CUNY Brooklyn College, Dept. Chemistry Brooklyn, NY 11210 718-951-5000 ext 2830 agreer@brooklyn.cuny.edu http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/chem/agreer/FirstPage.html 1999-current Professor Previous UCLA and University of Wyoming

Prof. Alexander Greer Publications A. A. Ghogare; A. Greer “Synthesis of a Poly(ethylene glycol) Galloyl Sensitizer Tip for an ‘All-in-one’ Photodynamic Device” J. Biophotonics 2016 (in press). A. Mahendran; A. A. Ghogare; R. Bittman; G. Arthur; A. Greer “Synthesis and Antiproliferative Properties of a New Ceramide Analog of Varacin” Chem. Phys. Lipids 2016, 194, 163-170. B. Malek; A. A. Ghogare; R. Choudhury; A. Greer “ A i r – w a t e r I n t e r f a c e E f f e c t s o n t h e Regioselectivity of Singlet Oxygenations of a Trisubstituted Alkene” Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 4505-4508. M. S. Oliveira; A. A. Ghogare; I. Abramova; E. M. Greer; F. M. Prado; P. Di Mascio; A. Greer “Mechanism of Photochemical O-Atom Exchange in Nitrosamines with Molecular Oxygen” J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 6119-6127. G. Ghosh; M. Minnis; A. A. Ghogare; I. Abramova; K. A. Cengel; T. M. Busch; A. Greer “Photoactive Teflon Surfaces that Release Sensitizer Drug Molecules” J. Phys. Chem. B 2015, 119, 4155-4164. I. Abramova; A. Greer “Ethnochemistry and Human Rights” Chem. Biodiversity 2013, 10, 1724-1728

Our research areas are organic chemistry, synthesis, oxidation, photochemistry, photodynamic therapy, photoaging and damage, drug design, ethnopharmacology, green chemistry, nanotechnology

Research Interests Our work has focused on synthesis and organic photooxidation reactions that are toxic to organisms and damaging to materials. There is a critical need for mechanistic strategies that can photogenerate intermediates in a clean and pure fashion, our published results focus on the physical isolation of sensitizer and molecules at surfaces to “separate” reactive oxygen species (ROS). We have an interest in photooxygen atom transfer processes related to thiophene sulfoxides and nitrosamines. Our work is also involved the synthesis and mechanistic studies of organic sulfanes related to natural product varacin, such as thianthrene, tetrathiocin, trithiole, and pentathiepin anticancer agents.

Wayne W. Harding, PhD Associate Professor Hunter College Chemistry Dept. 695 Park Avenue New York NY 10065 whardi@hunter.cuny.edu http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/chemistry/faculty/Harding/Wayne

Publications

Research Interests Keywords: Medicinal chemistry, drug design, organic synthesis, central nervous system, CNS, receptor, serotonin, dopamine

D r. H a r d i n g i s a o r g a n i c / m e d i c i n a l chemist with interests in the design, synthesis a n d e v a l u a t i o n o f l igands for centra l n e r v o u s s y s t e m receptors.

2013- current Associate Professor, Hunter College 2006-2013 Assistant Professor, Hunter College 2004-2006 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Iowa 1994-1999 Ph.D.

Dr. Wayne Harding Aporphinoid antagonists of 5-HT2A receptors: further evaluation of ring A substituents and the size of ring C. S. Ponnala, N. Kapadia, H. A. Navarro, W. W. Harding, Chem. Biol. Drug Des. 2014, 84, 558 - 566. Evaluation of structural effects on 5-HT2A receptor antagonism by aporphines: identification of a new aprophine with 5-HT2A antagonist activity. S. Ponnala, J. Gonzales, N. Kapadia, H. A. Navarro, W. W. Harding, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2014, 24, 1664 - 1667. New Aporphinoid 5-HT2A and α1Α antagonists via structural manipulations of nantenine. S. Chaudhary, S. Ponnala, O. LeGendre, J. Gonzales, H. A. Navarro, W. W. Harding, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2011, 19, 5861-5868. Affinity of aporphines for the human 5-HT2A receptor: insights from homology modeling and molecular docking studies. S. Pecic, S. Chaudhary, P. Makkar, B. J. Reddy, H. A. Navarro, W. W. Harding, Biorg. Med. Chem. 2010, 18, 5562 - 5575. (±)-Nantenine analogs as antagonists at human 5-HT2A receptors: C1 and flexible congeners, S. Chaudhary, O. LeGendre, S. Pecic, H. A. Navarro, W. W. Harding Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2009, 19, 2530 -2532.

William H. Hersh Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Queens College 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Queens, NY 11367-1597 william.hersh@qc.cuny.edu http://chem.qc.cuny.edu/~whersh

Publications S. Malik, A. Tarpanova, D. Lichtman, Y. Wallach, J. A. Mukhlall, W. H. Hersh, “Synthesis of Dixanthates and Dithiocarbonyl Disulfides as Models for Poly(disulfide)s, in preparation, 2015. W. H. Hersh, “Synthesis of dinucleoside acylphosphonites by phosphonodiamidite chemistry and investigation of phosphorus epimerization,” Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 184-191. W. H. Hersh, S. T. Lam, D. J. Moskovic, A. J. Panagiotakis, “A Non-Karplus Effect: Evidence from Phosphorus Heterocycles and DFT Calculations of the Dependence of Vicinal Phosphorus-Hydrogen NMR Coupling Constants on Lone-Pair Conformation,” J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 4968-4979. J.  A.  Mukhlall,  W.  H.  Hersh,     “SulfurizaLon  of   Dinucleoside   Phosphite   Triesters   with  Chiral   Disulfides,”  Nucleosides,   Nucleo,des  &  Nucleic  Acids  2011,  30,  706-­‐725.  

Dr. Hersh is an organic chemist with current research projects on synthesis of chiral oligonucleotide phosphorothioates and helical disulfide polymers. Specialties include NMR, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations.

1989 - current Queens College 1982 - 1989 UCLA 1980 – 1982 Postdoc, UC Berkeley 1980 PhD, Columbia University

Dr. William Hersh

George John Professor of Chemistry The City College of New York Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) -14302 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031 john@sci.ccny.cuny.edu www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~john/

Publications Faure, L.; Nagarajan, S.; Hwang, H.; Montgomery, C. L.; Khan, B. R.; John, G.; Koulen, P.; Blancaflor, E. B.; Chapman, K. D. Synthesis of Phenoxyacyl-Ethanolamides and Their Effects on Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Activity, J. Biol. Chem, 2014, 289, (13): 9340-51.   Vijai Shankar, B.; Jadhav. S. R.; Vemula, P. K; John. G. Recent Advances in Cardanol Chemistry in a Nutshell: From a Nut to Nanomaterials, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 427-438, Cover Page feature. Reddy, A. L.M.; Nagarajan, S.; Chumyim, P.; Gowda, S. R.; Dubey, M.; Jadhav, S. R.; John, G.; Ajayan, P. M. Lithium storage mechanisms in purpurin based organic lithium ion battery electrodes, Scientific Reports (Nature) 2012, 2, 960-964. Shankar, B. V.; Jadhav, S. R.; Pradhan, P.; De Carlo, S.; John, G. Adhesive vesicles through adaptive response of a biobased surfactant, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 9509 –9512. Cover Page feature. Jadhav, S. R.; Vemula, P. K.; Kumar, R.; Raghavan, S.; John, G. Sugar-derived phase-selective molecular gelators as model solidifiers for oil spills, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 7695-7698, Cover Page.

Research Interests Keywords: biobased materials, green chemistry, soft materials, biorefinery, biomimetics, phase selective gels, oil structuring agents (food/cosmetics), antibacterial coatings, battery components/energy storage, green surfactants John’s research is rooted in the idea that innovation can be inspired by nature to develop economical and sustainable technologies for a greener future. The group has harnessed crop-based precursors such as sugars, fatty acids and plant lipids to design a unique set of multifunctional soft-materials including polymers, gels and green surfactants. His group has successfully developed environmentally benign antibacterial paints, polymer-coatings, molecular gel technologies, oil spill recovery materials, battery components and oil thickening agents. As soft materials research is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, John’s lab encourages the blending of such diverse elements including organic synthesis, green chemistry, material chemistry, interfacial phenomena, colloid science and biomimetics.

George John is a Professor of Chemistry/the Center for Discovery and Innovation, the City College of New York -CUNY. His research is focused on molecular design of synthetic lipids, membrane mimics, soft nanomaterials, green energy technologies and organic materials chemistry.

Dr. George John

2012- current Professor of Chemistry, CCNY 2004-2012 Associate Prof. of Chemistry, CCNY 2002-2004 Research Faculty, RPI, NY 1996-2002 JSPS Fellow/Scientist, Japan 1994-1995 Postdoc, University of Twente, NL 1993 PhD Kerala University, India

Akira Kawamura Associate Professor Hunter College 695 Park Avenue New York NY 10065 akawamur@hunter.cuny.edu www.hunter.cuny.edu/chemistry/faculty/Kawamura

Publications Mihai, D.M., Hall, S., Deng, H., Welch, C.J., Kawamura, A. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2015, Nov 15;25(22):5349-51. PMID: 26420066 Li, X., Kawamura, A., Andrews, C.D., Miller, J.L., Wu, D., Tsao, T., Zhang, M., Oren, D., Padte, N.N., Porcelli, S.A., Wong, C.H., Kappe, S.H., Ho, D.D., Tsuji, M. J. Immunol. 2015;195(6):2710-21. PMID: 26254338 Montenegro, D., Kalpana, K., Chrissian, C., Sharma, A., Takaoka, A., Iacovidou, M., Soll, C.E., Aminova O., Heguy, A., Cohen, L., Shen, S., Kawamura, A. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2015;25(3):466-9. PMID: 25547935 Takaoka, A., Iacovidou, M., Hasson, T.H., Montenegro, D., Li, X., Tsuji, M., Kawamura, A. Planta Med. 2014;80(4):283-9. PMID: 24549928 Hasson, T.H., Takaoka, A., de la Rica, R., Matsui, H., Smeureanu, G., Drain, C.M. and Kawamura, A. Chem. Biol. Drug Design, 2014;83(4):493-7. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.12250. PubMed PMID: 24495243

Research Interests Keywords: Natural Products, Phytobacteria, Glycolipids, Immunology We currently focus on immunomodulatory glycolipids of phytobacteria that were detected in several medicinal plants. In addition to medicinal plants, these lipids exist in many other edible plants. At present little is known about their potential health benefits and risks. This is an important problem because human body is continually exposed to various phytobacterial metabolites through consumption of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. To address this problem, we conduct structural and immunological characterization of phytobacterial glycolipids with immunomodulatory activity.

Natural products chemistry focused on phytobacterial metabolites. Chemical messages for microbial interactions.

2008- current Associate Professor, Hunter College 2002-2007 Assistant Professor, Hunter College 1999-2002 Postdoc, Scripps Research Institute 1994-1999 PhD, Columbia University

Dr Akira Kawamura

Mahesh Lakshman Professor and Vice Chair The City College of New York Department of Chemistry 160 Convent Avenue New York NY mlakshman@ccny.cuny.edu www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~mkl

Publications Singh, M. K.; Akula, H. K.; Satishkumar, S.; Stahl, L.; Lakshman, M. K.: Ruthenium-catalyzed C–H bond activation approach to azolyl aminals and hemiaminal ethers, mechanistic evaluations, and isomer interconversion, ACS Catalysis 2016, 6, 1921–1928. (Featured on the front cover) M. Singh, M. K. Lakshman, Diarylmethanes via an unprecedented Pd-catalyzed C–C cross coupling of 1-(aryl)methoxy-1H-benzotriazoles with arylboronic acids, ChemCatChem. 2015, 7, 4156–4162. P. F. Thomson, D. Parrish, P. Pradhan, M. K. Lakshman, Modular, metal-catalyzed, cyclo-isomerization approach to angularly-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 7435–7446. M. K. Lakshman, A. Kumar, R. Balachandran, B. W. Day. G. Andrei, R. Snoeck, J. Balzarini, Synthesis and biological properties of C-2 triazolylinosine derivatives, J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 5870–5883. (Editor-selected featured article) M. K. Lakshman, A. C. Deb, R. R. Chamala, P. Pradhan, R. Pratap, Direct arylation of 6-phenylpurine and 6-arylpurine nucleosides by ruthenium-catalyzed C–H bond activation, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 11400–11404.

Research Interests Keywords: Chemical Methodology, Metal catalysis, Nucleoside Modification, Biomolecules The program has many facets but can be broadly divided into the following areas. A. Development of New Chemical Methodology. B. Nucleoside modifications by new metal-catalyzed as well as novel uncatalyzed routes. B. Unusual applications of peptide coupling agents. C. Structural and biological effects of DNA modification by environmental pollutants. C. Novel reactions involving arynes. D. Development of new chemical methodology. Every aspect entails a detailed understanding of chemical process via mechanism studies involving techniques such as molecular spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR, and isotopic labeling.

Prof. Lakshman is an organic/bioorganic chemist with interests in: (a) new chemical methodology, (b) nucleoside modification by m e t a l c a t a l y s i s a n d uncatalyzed methods, (c) biological agents, (d) novel applications of peptide coupling agents, (e) new aryne reactions.

20008- current Professor 2004-2008 Associate Professor 2000-2004 Assistant Professor 1998-2000 Assistant Professor (U North Dakota) 1994-1997 Senior Scientist (Private Sector) 1990-1994 Fogarty Fellow NIH (HIDDK) 1985-1989 PhD

Dr Mahesh Lakshman

Hiroshi Matsui Professor Hunter College / Weill Medical College of Cornell U 413 E. 69th Street Belfer Research Building New York, NY 10021 hmatsui@hunter.cuny.edu www.hunter.cuny.edu/chemistry/faculty/Hiroshi/Hiroshil

Publications “Rational strategy for shaped nanomaterial synthesis in reverse micelle reactors”, Z. Wei, H. Matsui, Nature Commun., 5, 3870, (2014). “Impedimetric Detection of Mutant p53 Biomarker-Driven Metastatic Breast Cancers under Hyposmotic Pressure”, M. Shi, N. Shtraizent, A. Polotskaia, J. Bargonetti, H. Matsui, PloSOne, 9(6): e99351., DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099351 (2014). “Biocatalytic Self-Assembly Enables Discovery of Catalytic Peptides by Phage Display”, Y. Maeda, N. Javid, K. Duncan, L. Birchall, K. Gibson, D. Cannon, Y. Kanetsuki, C. Knapp, T. Tuttle, R.V. Ulijn, H. Matsui, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 136, 15893-15896 (2014). “Peptide Assembly-Driven Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Motors for Micro Electric Generators”, Y. Ikezoe, J. Fang, T.L. Wasik, T. Uemura, Y. Zheng, S. Kitagawa, H. Matsui, Adv. Mater., 27, 288-291 (2014). “Label-free cancer cel l detect ion with impedimetric transducers”, R. de la Rica, S, Thompson, A. Baldi, C. Fernández-Sánchez, C.M. Drain, and H. Matsui, Anal. Chem., 81, 10167 (2009). (featured as research news in the N a t i o n a l C a n c e r I n s t i t u t e i n 2 0 0 9 , http:/ /physics.cancer.gov/news/2009/dec/po_news_e.asp)

Research Interests Keywords: Cancer Nanotechnology, Cancer Diagnostics/therapeutics, Lab-On-a-Chip, Medical Nanoparticles 1. Study of the effect on cellular structure by cancer metastasis. 2. Analysis of nanoscale vesicles released from cancer cells for diagnostics and therapeutics. 3.  Electric silicon chip microfabrication for the detection of cancer and related cells. 4. Synthesis of nanoparticles in complex shapes for medical applications such as MRI contrast agents and drug delivery.

Matsui is a Professor at Hunter College and Weill Medical College of Cornell University. My research a r e a s a r e C a n c e r diagnostics/ therapeutics, Bionanotechnology, Lab-On-a-Chip, and Nanoparticle Synthes is for Medica l Applications.

2001- current Current position 1996-1999 Columbia University, Postdoc 1992-1996 Purdue University, PhD 1991-1992 Stanford University, MS

Dr. Hiroshi Matsui

David Mootoo Professor Hunter College Chemistry Department 695 Park Avenue New York NY 10065 dmootoo@hunter.cuny.edu http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/chemistry/faculty/Randy/Randy

Publications Garg, H.; Francella, N.; Tony, K. A.; Augustin, L. A.; Fantini, J.; Barchi Jr, J. J.; Puri, A.; Mootoo; Blumenthal, R. Glycoside analogues of a-galactosylceramide, a novel class of small molecule inhibitors for HIV-1 entry. Antiviral Res. 2008 80, 54-61. Hans, S. K.; Camara, F.; Martin-Montalvo, A.; Brautigan, D. L.; Heimark, D.; Larner, J.; Grindrod, S.; Brown, M.; Mootoo, D. R. Synthesis of the C-glycoside analog of b-galactosamine-(1->4)-3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol and assay as activator of protein phosphatases PDHP and PP2Ca. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2010, 18, 1103-1110. Bachan, S.; Fantini, J.; Joshi, A.; Garg, H.; Mootoo, D. R. Synthesis, gp120 binding and anti-HIV activity of fatty acid esters of 1,1-linked disaccharides. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2011, 19, 14803-14811. Bachan, S.; Tony, K. A.; Kawamura, A.; Montenegro, D.; Joshi, A.; Garg, H.Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of carbohydrate analogues of the tetrahydrofuran containing acetogenins. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2013, 21, 6554-6564. Intramolecular nitrogen delivery for the synthesis of C-glycosphingolipids. Altiti, A. S.; Mootoo, D. R. Application to the C-Glycoside of the immunostimulant KRN7000. Org. Lett, 2014, 16, 1466-1469.

Research Interests Keywords:synthesis, glycomimetics, tumor targeting, immunostimulants An broad area of current interest is the design and synthesis of molecules for interrogating anti-cancer pathways. Two strategies that center on targeting cytotoxic agents to tumors and glycolipids that boost the immune system against cancer are being pursued. These projects entail the design and synthesis of novel small molecules and examination of their biological properties, in the context of specific disease mechanisms.

Our research centers o n t h e d e s i g n , s y n t h e s i s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f b i o m e c h a n i s t i c p r o b e s , a n d t h e development of new s y n t h e t i c methodologies.

1989- current Professor 1986-1989 Postdoc, Duke University 1982-1986 Ph.D., University of Maryland

Dr. David R. Mootoo

Ryan P. Murelli Assistant Professor Brooklyn College 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY rpmurelli@brooklyn.cuny.edu http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/rpmurelli/

Publications Lu, G.; Lomonosova, E.; Cheng, X.; Moran, E. A.; Meyers, M. J.; Le Grice, S. F. J.; Thomas, C. J.; Jiang, J-K.; Meck, C.; Hirsch, D. R.; D'Erasemo, M. P.; Suyabatmaz, D. M.; Murelli, R. P.; Tavis, J. E. "Hydroxylated tropolones inhibit hepatitis B virus replication by blocking the viral ribonuclease H activity" Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2015, 59, 1070-1079. Hirsch, D. R.; Cox, G. C.; D'Erasmo, M. P.; Shakya, T.; Meck, C.; Mohd, N.; Wright, G. D.; Murelli, R. P. "Inhibition of ANT(2")-Ia resitance enzyme and rescue of aminoglycoside antibiotic activity by synthetic α-hydroxytropolones" Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2014, 24, 4943-4947. Meck, C.; D' Erasmo, M. P.; Hirsch, D. R.; Murelli, R. P. "The biology and synthesis of α-hydroxytropolones" Med. Chem. Comm. 2014, 5, 842-852.

Williams, Y. D.; Meck, C.; Mohd, N.; Murelli, R. P. "Triflic acid mediated rearrangements of 3-methoxy-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dien-2-ones: Synthesis of methoxytropolones and furans" J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 11707-11713. Meck, C.; Mohd, N.; Murelli, R. P. "An oxidopyrylium cyclization/ ring-opening route to polysubstituted α-hydroxytropolones" Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 5988-5991.

Research Interests Keywords: Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology Our mission is to make fundamental contributions to synthetic organic chemistry, biology and medicine. To accomplish this, we seek out problems in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology that are in need of new synthetic organic chemistry developments. Thus, primary studies carried out by lab members range from reaction discovery and mechanism investigations to multi-step synthetic strategy developments. We simultaneously partner with experts in complementary fields in order to leverage these advancements in a broad range of interdisciplinary projects devoted to lead drug discovery and development.

2010- current Assistant Professor, Boston College 2007-2010 Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University 2002-2007 PhD Student, Boston College

Dr. Ryan Murelli Dr. Murelli is a trained synthetic organic chemist with interests in reaction d e v e l o p m e n t , t o t a l s y n t h e s i s , m e d i c i n a l chemistry and chemical biology. His primary research interest involves troponoids as therapeutic targets and is developing drugs for HIV, Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis B, and many more.

Naphtali O’Connor Assistant Professor Lehman College, CUNY 250 Bedford Park Blvd West Bronx, NY 10468 Naphtali.oconnor@lehman.cuny.edu lehman.edu/academics/chemistry/prof-oconnor.php

Publications O’Connor, N.A.; Abugharbieh, A.; Buabeng, E.; Yasmeen, F.; Mathew, S.; Samaroo, D.; Cheng, H. “The Crosslinking of Polysaccharides with Polyamines and Dextran-Polyallylamine Antibacterial Hydrogels” Int. J. Biol. Macromol. (2015) 72, 88-93. Samaroo, D.; Perez, E.; Aggarwal, A.; Wills, A.; O’Connor, N.A. “Strategies for Delivering Porphyrinoid-based Photosensit izers in Therapeutic Applications” Therapeutic Delivery (2014), 5(7), 859-872.

Solomon, M.R.; O’Connor, N.A.; Paik, D.C.; Turro, N.J. “Nitroalcohol Induced Hydrogel Formation in Amine-Functionalized Polymers.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2010), 117(2), 1193-1196. O'Connor, N.A.; Stevens, N.; Samaroo, D.; Solomon, M.R.; Martí, A.A.; Dyer, J.; Vishwasrao, H.; Akins, D.L.; Kandel, E.R.; Turro, N.J. “A covalently linked phenanthridine-ruthenium(II) complex as a RNA probe.” Chem. Comm. (2009), 2640-2642. Stevens, N.; O'Connor, N.A.; Vishwasrao, H.; Samaroo, D.; Kandel, E.R.; Akins, D.L.; Drain, Charles M.; Turro, N.J. “Two color RNA intercalating probe for cell imaging applications.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2008) 130, 7206-7207. Research Interests

Keywords: biomaterials, hydrogels, polymers My current research focus is the development of materials for biomedical applications. We recently developed a method for preparing polysaccharide-polyamine crosslinked hydrogels. We are currently exploring their application as anti-microbial and wound healing materials. We are also working on the development of curcumin based biomaterials as antibacterial agents and cancer therapeutics.

Naphtali has a varied research background that reflects his wide research interests. His research ranges from developing biomaterials to designing molecular probes.

2008- current Current position 2007-2008 Postdoc/Columbia University 2000-2006 PhD/University of California, Irvine

Dr. Naphtali O’Connor

Adam A. Profit, Ph.D. Associate Professor York College 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd Jamaica, NY 11451 Email.aprofit@york.cuny.edu www.york.cuny.edu/portal_college/aprofit

Publications Profit, A. A., Vedad, J. Saleh, M., and Desamero, R.Z.B. “Aromaticity and Amyloid Formation: Effect of π-Electron Distribution and Aryl Substituent Geometry on the Self-Assembly of Peptides Derived from hIAPP22-29” Arch Biochem Biophys 2015, 567, 46-58. Profit, A. A., Felsen, V., Chinwong, J., Mojica, E-R., and Desamero, R.Z.B. “Evidence of π-stacking Interactions in the Self-assembly of hIAPP22-29” PROTEINS: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics 2013, 81, 690-703.

Research Interests Keywords: Amyloid, protein kinases, peptides, peptoids, enzymology, solid phase synthesis The abnormal formation of protein aggregates, or amyloid deposits, is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease as well as type 2 diabetes. My laboratory is investigating the molecular interactions that occur between key proteins that contribute to the formation of amyloid in these diseases. Through a more detailed understanding of how these proteins self-assembly to form aggregates, we hope to design and develop small molecule and peptide mimetic inhibitors which may serve as potential therapeutic agents.

We are also developing compounds that inhibit the activity of key enzymes (kinases) which can cause tissues to grow out of control and develop into tumors. To accomplish this we are synthesizing molecules that exploit the unique molecular recognition motifs found in these enzymes to more effectively deliver inhibitory species to the active site.

Protein-ligand interactions is the unifying theme of my research in terests . In part icular, the design, synthesis and application of biologically relevant probe molecules to study and elucidate protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions involved in amyloid diseases and cancer.

2014- current Associate Professor of Chemistry 2004-2014 Assistant Professor of Chemistry 2000-2004 Merck Research Laboratories 1997-2000 Postdoc - Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1997 PhD - Stony Brook University

Dr. Adam A. Profit

Krishnaswami Raja, Ph.D. Associate Professor College of Staten Island Department of Chemistry 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, New York 10314 Krishnaswami.Raja@cuny.edu h t t p : / / w w w . c s i . c u n y . e d u / f a c u l t y /RAJA_KRISHNASWAMI.html

Publications

“Curcumin-derived green plasticizers for Poly(vinyl) chloride.” Saltos, J., Shi, W.; Mancuso, A, Park, T.; Averick, N.; Sun, C.; Fata, J. E.;. Punia, K.; Raja, K. S.* RSC Adv., 2014, 4 (97), 54725 – 54728. Raja, K.S. Editorial: Green Anti-Cancer Agents and Ayur-Biotechnology: A smart approach towards improving R&D productivity. Anticancer Agents in Med Chem 2013 Dec;13(10):1467-8. Raja, K.S.; Banerjee, P.; Lamoreaux, W.; Shi, W.; A u e r b a c h , A . ; “ N o v e l C u r c u m i n a n d Tetrahydrocurcumin derivatives” US patent number 8487139 Dolai, S. ; Shi, W.; and Raja, K.S.“Synthesis of Drug/Dye-Incorporated Polymer–Protein Hybrids” Methods in Molecular Biology Bioconjugation Protocols : Strategies and Vol 751, 29-42, 2011. Raja, K.S., Dolai, S. ; Shi, W.; Wang, Q. Bionanoparticles as nanoscaffolds for chemical manipulation”. Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Marcel Dekker, 2009, Second Edition.

Research Interests Keywords: Origin of life, stigmergy scaffolds, 3D Cell culture, Ayurbiotecnology, Virus Chemistry, Bioconjugation, Green drug development, Polymer-protein hybrids The Raja group is interested in creating programmable scaffolds for probing the origins of multi-cellular life, synthesis of well defined polymer-bionanoparticle/targeting protein hybrids and green drug discovery and development based on Ayurveda. The research spans the areas of small molecule and polymer synthesis, bioconjugation chemistry and bioengineering.

Krishnaswami Raja is College of Staten Island Chemistry faculty working in t h e a r e a o f Bionanotechnology, Origin of life research and green d r u g d i s c o v e r y a n d development.

2012- current Associate Professor 2005-2012 Assistant Professor, College of Staten

Island 2000-2004 Skaggs Post Doctoral Fellow TSRI 1999 Indian Institute of Science

Dr. Krishnaswami Raja

Name: Varattur D. Reddy Position : Professor Affiliation: Kingsborough Community College Address: 2001 Oriental Blvd Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY 11235 vreddy@kbcc.cuny.edu and vreddy@gc.cuny.edu

Publications Reddy,  V.  D.,  Greener  Organic  Chemistry  Experiments:  A  Miniscale  and  Microscale  Approach  3rd  Edi,on,  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  2015.    Reddy,  V.  D.  Organometallic  AnL-­‐cancer  Complexes”.  U.S.  Pat.  2012/032507  and  Int.  Pat.  WO  2012/138988  A2.    Reddy,  V.  D.;  Dayal,  D.;  Szalda,  D.J.  Cosenza,  S.C.;  Reddy,  M.V.R.  “  Synthesis,    structures,  and  anLcancer  acLvity  of  novel  Organometallic  ruthenium-­‐maltol    complexes”.    J.  Organomet.  Chem,  2012,  700,  180.    Reddy,  V.  D.;  Dayal,  D.;  Cosenza,  S.C.;  Reddy.  M.V.  R.;  Pearl.  Jr.,  W.C.;  Adams,  R.D.  “Glycal  ruthenium  carbonyl  clusters:  Synthesis,  characterizaLon,  and  anLcancer  acLvity,”

J.Organomet.  Chem,  2009,  694,  959.    Reddy,  V.  D.  “Synthesis,  characterizaLon,  and  reacLvity  of  a  novel  ruthenium  carbonyl  cluster  containing  tri-­‐O-­‐benzyl-­‐D-­‐glucal  as  a  chiral  carbohydrate  ligand,” J.  Organomet.  Chem,  2006,  691,  27.

Research Interests  Synthesis  of  organic  and  organometallic  compounds  as  anLcancer  and  anL-­‐Alzheimer's  disease  agents.   Organic   synthesis   involves   total   synthesis   of   natural   and   unnatural   products   and  modified  carbohydrates.  Organometallic  chemistry  involves  synthesis  of  novel  organometallic  catalysts,   efficient   methodologies   for   the   synthesis   of   biologically   acLve   molecules,  bioorganometallics,   and   drug   delivery   systems.   Research   faciliLes   at   Kingsborough   are   400  MHz  NMR  Facility,  IR,  GC,  and  HPLC.

Our group research focuses on the following areas: Synthesis of o rgan ic and o rganometa l l i c compounds as anticancer and anti-Alzheimer’s disease agents, and catalysis.

2001- current Kingsborough Community College-CUNY 1993-2001 Schering Plough Pharmaceutical Company currently Merck and American Health Foundation 1990-1993 Hunter College and Queens College 1990 Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Dr. Varattur Reddy

CUNY  by  the  Sea  

Kevin Ryan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Biochemistry Division Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The City College of New York MR-1337, 160 Convent Ave. New York NY kr107@sci.ccny.cuny.edu http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~kr107/index2/index.html

Publications Liu, M. T.; Nagre, N. N.; Ryan, K., Structurally diverse low molecular weight activators of the mammalian pre-mRNA 3' cleavage reaction. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2014, 22 (2), 834-41; Li, Y.; Peterlin, Z.; et al., Aldehyde Recognition and Discrimination by Mammalian Odorant Receptors via Functional Group-Specific Hydration Chemistry. ACS Chemical Biology 2014; Lama, L.; Seidl, C. I.; Ryan, K., New insights into the promoterless transcription of DNA coligo templates by RNA polymerase III. Transcription 2014, 5 (1); Seidl, C. I.; Lama, L.; Ryan, K., Circularized synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides serve as promoterless RNA polymerase III templates for small RNA generation in human cells. Nucleic Acids Research 2013, 41 (4), 2552-64; Kurland, M. D.; Newcomer, M. B.; et al., Discrimination of saturated aldehydes by the rat I7 olfactory receptor. Biochemistry 2010, 49 (30), 6302-4.

Research Interests Keywords: molecular recognition, olfaction, RNA, micro RNA, RNA interference, RNA polymerase III, chemical biology, transcription In the RNA area, we study the use of chemically synthesized transcription templates as potential information-bearing molecules for producing small therapeutic RNA in human cells. A second RNA area is the biochemistry of RNA processing reactions that occur during the biogenesis of messenger RNA in human cells. In the olfaction area, we use pharmacology, organic synthesis and chemical biology to probe the biochemistry of the sense of smell.

Dr. Ryan’s lab applies chemica l concep ts to biological problems in two main areas, RNA and o l f a c t o r y m o l e c u l a r recognition.

2009- current Associate Professor 2003-2008 Assistant Professor 1996-2003 Postdoc, Columbia University (Chemistry

and Biology Depts.) 1996 Ph.D., University of Rochester

Dr. Kevin Ryan

Barbara Zajc Professor The City College of New York Department of Chemistry 160 Convent Avenue New York NY bzajc@ccny.cuny.edu http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/Barbara-Zajc.cfm

Publications Kumar, R.; Singh, G.; Todaro, L. J.; Yang, L.; Zajc, B.: E- or Z-Selective Synthesis of 4-Fluorovinyl-1,2,3-triazoles with Fluorinated Second-Generation Triazole-Substituted Julia-Kocienski Reagents, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13, 1536–1549 . Chowdhury, M.; Mandal, S. K.; Banerjee, S.; Zajc, B.: Synthesis of Regiospecifically Fluorinated Conjugated Dienamides, Molecules 2014, 19, 4418–4432 (Invited contribution for Molecules Special Issue on Fluorine Chemistry). Singh, G.; Kumar, R.; Swett, J.; Zajc, B.: Modular Synthesis of N-Vinyl Benzotriazoles, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 4086-4089. Kumar, R.; Zajc, B.: Stereoselective Synthesis of Conjugated Fluoro Enynes, J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 8417-8427. Mandal, S. K.; Ghosh, A. K.; Kumar, R.; Zajc, B.: Expedient Synthesis of α-Substituted Fluoroethenes, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 3164-3167 (Featured on the Front Cover of the Journal, Issue 16).

Research Interests Keywords: Fluoroorganic chemistry, Biomolecules, Chemical Carcinogenesis

The research is focused in two main directions. One area involves development of methods for regiospecific introduction of fluorine into organic molecules. Here, an expanding toolbox of novel reagents for the synthesis of variously functionalized vinyl fluorides, highly versatile synthetic intermediates, is being developed. Another area of research involves the use of fluorine as probe in structure activity studies in the area of chemical carcinogenesis. Specifically fluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, their metabolites and their DNA conjugates are synthesized as probes to understanding cellular events after metabolism and DNA binding.

Zajc is an organic/b i o o r g a n i c c h e m i s t working in areas of (a) fluoroorganic chemistry, ( b ) c h e m i c a l carcinogenesis, and (c) synthetic methodology.

2013 Professor 2003 Associate Professor (CCNY) 2001 Assistant Professor (Substitute, CCNY) 1999 Associate Professor (Docent, U of Ljubljana) 1993 Assistant Professor (U of Ljubljana) 1991 Fogarty Fellow NIH (NIDDK) 1989 PhD

Dr. Barbara Zajc

Guoqi Zhang Assistant Professor Department of Sciences John Jay College of Criminal Justice 524 W 59th Street, 10019 New York NY Email: guzhang@jjay.cuny.edu http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/guoqi-zhang

Publications Z. Yin, G. Zhang, S. Zheng, T. Phoenix, J. C. Fettinger, “Assembling mono-, di- and tri-nuclear coordination complexes with a ditopic analogue of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine: syntheses, structures and catalytic studies”, RSC Advances, 2015, 5, 36156-36166. G. Zhang, G. Proni, S. Zhao, Ed C. Constable, C. E. Housecroft, J. A. Zampese, M. Neuburger, “Chiral tetranuclear and dinuclear copper(II) complexes for TEMPO-mediated aerobic oxidation of alcohols: are four metal centres better than two?”, Dalton Trans. 2014, 43, 12313-12320 G. Zhang, K. V. Vasudevan, B. L. Scott, S. K. Hanson, “Understanding the mechanisms of c o b a l t - c a t a l y z e d h y d r o g e n a t i o n a n d dehydrogenation reactions”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 8668-8681. G. Zhang, S. K. Hanson, “Cobalt-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of C=O and C=N bonds”, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 10151-10153. G. Zhang, B. L. Scott, S. K. Hanson, “Mild and homogeneous cobalt-catalyzed hydrogenation of C=C, C=O, and C=N bonds”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 12102-12106.

Research Interests Keywords: Inorganic/Organometallic Catalysis, Energy Conversion; Forensic Chemistry Description of research activities and strategy: Our research concerns over the design and synthesis of novel non-precious metal complexes and their applications in energy-related catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, anticancer drugs and forensic science.

Prof. Zhang is an inorganic chemist who has broad research in te res ts i n inorganic/organometalic chemistry, non-precious metal catalysis and forensic chemistry, with a focus on the synthesis of novel organic-inorganic functional materials.

2013- current Assistant Professor 2006-2013 Postdoc Los Alamos National Lab and

Uni. Basel 2001-2006 Ph.D., Institute of Chemistry, CAS

Dr. Guoqi Zhang

Shengping Zheng Assistant Professor Hunter College 695 Park Avenue New York, NY 10065 szh0007@hunter.cuny.edu http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/chemistry/faculty/Shengping/Shengping

Publications Yin, Z.; Zhang, J.; Wu, J.; Green, R.; Li, S.; Zheng, S. “Synthesis of o-Chlorophenols via an Unexpected Nucleophilic Chlorination of Quinone Monoketals Mediated by N, N’-Dimethylhydrazine Dihydrochloride” Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 2854-2858. Yin, Z.; Zhang, J.; Wu, J.; Liu, C.; Sioson, K.; Devany, M.; Hu, C.; Zheng, S. “Double Hetero-Michael Addition of N-Substituted Hydroxylamines to Quinone Monoketals: Synthesis of Bridged Isoxazolidines” Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3534-3537. Zhang, J.; Wu, J.; Yin, Z.; Zeng, H.; Khanna, K.; Hu, C.; Zheng, S. “An Expedient Stereoselective and Chemoselective Synthesis of Bicyclic Oxazolidinones from Quinols and Isocyanates” Org. Biomol. Chem. 2013, 11, 2939-2942. Zhang, J.; Yin, Z.; Leonard, P.; Wu, J.; Sioson, K.; Liu, C.; Lapo, R.; Zheng, S. “A Variation of Fischer Indolization Involving Condensation of Quinone Monoketals and Aliphatic Hydrazines” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2013, 52, 1753-1757.  

Research Interests Keywords: Organic Synthesis, Anticancer, Antiviral, Heterocycles, Natural Products

1. New methodologies in heterocycle synthesis

2. Total synthesis of bioactive natural products

Our group focuses on the synthesis of b ioact ive heterocycles and their SAR studies.

2008- current Assistant Professor, Hunter College 2005-2008 Postdoc, Columbia University 2000-2005 PhD, Columbia University

Dr. Shengping Zheng