Aubé Research Group
• B.S. 1980, University of Miami
• Ph.D. 1984, Duke University
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow 1984-1986, Yale University
Research
Stereochemistry, synthetic methodology, peptidomimetics
The Aubé group has a continuing interest in the development of new reactions that complement existing methods for the
preparation of biologically relevant molecules. This interest has been especially directed toward nitrogen-insertion
reactions because of the ubiquity of nitrogen in pharmaceutical products. We have used such ring expansion reactions
in syntheses of alkaloids, amino acid bioisosteres, and various classes of peptidomimetics.
A useful reaction discovered in the Aubé laboratories is the intramolecular Schmidt reaction. This beautifully simple
reaction involves the acid-promoted combination of a carbonyl compound with an alkyl azide. The result of this process
is an amide, one of the most versatile nitrogen-containing functional groups known. As part of an active program in total
synthesis, the group has used this new reaction in synthetic approaches to compounds such as the indolizidine alkaloids
of South American poison frogs, sparteine, aspidospermidine, and stenine.
Another aspect of our overall research program is concerned with how novel molecules can be designed as peptide mimics,
enzyme inhibitors, or as probes of cellular transport processes. Peptide mimics are compounds designed to inhabit the
naturally occurring recognition sites of biologically important peptide hormones, eventually resulting in the synthesis
of small-molecule antagonists or agonists of the endemic peptides. This project involves aspects of NMR, CD, and computational
methods in addition to organic synthesis. In collaborative work, we have also been heavily involved in the synthesis of
protease inhibitors and the study of cellular transport mechanisms.
Professor Aubé has received fellowships from Eli Lilly, American Cyanamid, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He has also
been honored for outstanding teaching at KU through the 1995 HOPE and 1997 Kemper awards. He was the recipient of the 2001
Olin Petefish Award for excellence in the Basic Sciences.
For More Information Contact:
Jeff Aubé
Department of Medicinal Chemistry
4070 Malott Hall
Tel: 785-864-4495
FAX: 785-864-5326
Internet: jaube@ku.edu
