Biochemistry major Jeb Braunscheidel received a grant to support his research into the synthesis of Rhytismatones A and B, in Professor Tim Gregg’s lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Jeb spent the summer of 2023 working on a novel synthesis procedure for these fungal-derived natural compounds that originated in a Canadian spruce forest. The molecules have a complicated dihydropyran-2-one structure, have never been synthesized before, and have interesting biological activity that can only be investigated further if a lab procedure makes them available in suitable quantity.
The award, from the Rochester Academy of Science (RAS), will help with materials needed to complete the synthesis that Jeb detailed in his proposal to RAS. Jeb’s research project was one of nine funded this year by the RAS Undergraduate Student Research Grant Fund. The Rochester Academy of Science is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry
