As part of the Carbene/Nitrene Synthesis (CNS) group, the Sharma Laboratory studies carbenes and nitrenes—highly reactive, six-electron isoelectronic intermediates invaluable in synthetic chemistry. We leverage carbene/nitrene ( Want to know more about Carbenes and Nitrenes? Click here) chemistry to synthesize, evaluate, and modify potential therapeutic agents, many derived from natural products, to address critical health challenges such as cancer, bacterial infections, and neurological disorders.
Our approach combines two complementary strategies: isolation/semi-synthesis and method development/total synthesis. These methods enable us to create a diverse library of analogs for in-depth structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. We collaborate with leading research groups at the University of Oklahoma (Norman and Health Sciences Center), Vanderbilt University, the Bridge Institute (University of Southern California), and Mount Sinai in New York to further develop these synthetic compounds. These partnerships bring together expertise in natural product isolation, organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and molecular pharmacology.
Our current research includes the development of novel bond-forming reactions using Earth-abundant metal carbenes (Fe, Cu, Zn), biomimetic synthesis, stereoselective glycosylations employing Earth-abundant metals and blue light, and complex natural product total synthesis. We also focus on structural diversification to establish SAR insights. In parallel, we are tackling environmental challenges by exploring the conversion of potent greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄), into benign and valuable chemicals like methanol (CH₃OH) and nitrogen gas (N₂).
This research program has received robust support from prestigious funding agencies, including the NIH, NSF, DOD, ACS-PRF, and the Oklahoma Center for Science and Technology (OCAST). Our work has been featured in high-impact journals, including ACS-Catalysis, Nature Communications, and Science.
The Sharma Laboratory engages in the synthesis, assessment, and modification of potential therapeutic leads derived from or inspired by natural products for the treatment of cancer, bacterial infections, and neurological disorders. This work uses two complimentary approaches, isolation/semi-synthesis and method development/total synthesis to access a library of diverse analogues.