People
James P. Dittami
Professor
Faculty Listing
Office: Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, 3023
Phone: +1-508-831-5149
Fax: +1-508-831-5933
jdittami@wpi.edu
Educational Background
- B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 1975
- M.S., Boston College, 1978
- Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1983
Research & Teaching Interests
Organic chemistry; natural product synthesis; new synthetic methods; alkaloid synthesis; organic photochemistry; medicinal chemistry
Research
My areas of research include synthetic organic chemistry, organic photochemistry and heterocyclic chemistry. My interests include development of novel chemical reactions with application to the synthesis of biologically active natural products.
Toward this goal we have developed the "photoinitiated intramolecular ylide-alkene cycloaddition reaction". This procedure provides a method for construction of up to three rings and six-chiral centers in a single experimental operation from relatively simple starting materials. Preliminary investigations have uncovered several unusual reactions which can be controlled by wavelength of irradiation, reaction temperature or solvent. Thus, there is significant potential for this process in the stereocontrolled synthesis of organic materials. We continue to explore development of this procedure for application to the synthesis of natural products. One project involves preparation huperzine analogs. The huperzine alkaloids show promise for the treatment of myasthenia gravis and Alzeimer's disease. Another is aimed at preparation of morphine analogs.
We are also involved in mechanistic studies to explore the fundamental processes underlying the cycloaddition reactions. Projects in this area involve preparation of photosubstrates, deuterium labelling studies and evaluation of transients by laser flash photolysis techniques. The laser flash photolysis work is carried out in collaboration with Professor W. Grant McGimpsey of the chemistry department.
Finally our group is exploring the scope and limitation of the photoinitiated intramolecular cycloaddition procedure. These studies include evaluation of the structural features of the photoprecursors and the impact on the stereoselectivity, regioselectivity and overall reactivity in these reactions.
Years of Service at WPI
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry, 1985-1987
- Leonard P. Kinnicutt Assistant Professor of Chemistry, 1987-1990
- Associate Professor of Chemistry, 1991-1995
- Associate Professor and Head Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1995-1998
- Professor of Chemistry, 1998
- Professor and Head Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1998-2005
- Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2005-Present