Assistant Professor (9/90-8/95), Associate Professor (9/95-1/97), Professor (2/97-6/04), Distinguished
University Professor of Chemistry (7/04-present), all at University of Pittsburgh • Director, Centers for
Combinatorial Chemistry and Chemical Methodologies & Library Development, University of Pittsburgh (12/97-
present) • Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh (11/01-
present) • Adjunct Professor (2002-present), Duke University, Department of Chemistry.
Ernest Guenther Award in the Chemistry of Natural Products (2009) • Chancellor’s Distinguished Research
Award (2008) • Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2004) • ISHC Katritzky Award in Heterocyclic
Chemistry (2003) • Fellow of the AAAS (2002) • Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Stereochemistry
(June 9-14, 2002) • Novartis Research Award (2000, 2001) • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Fellow (2000) • Akron Section ACS Award (1998) • Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (1998) • Merck Young
Investigator Award (1995) • Zeneca Award for Excellence in Chemistry (1995) • Camille Dreyfus Teacher-
Scholar Award (1995) • American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award (1995-1998) • NSF
Presidential Faculty Fellow (1994-1999) • ETH Ruzicka Award (1994) • Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
(1994-1996) • Eli Lilly Grantee (1993-1995).
Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses, Inc. • Board of Directors, Organic Reactions, Inc. • Series Editor, The
Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, J. Wiley
Research Interest
Research in the Wipf group covers a broad spectrum of Chemistry, including
o Total Synthesis of Natural Products
Total Synthesis encompasses all aspects of organic chemistry: The development of new methodology, mechanistic and physical organic experiments, conformational and configurational analysis by spectroscopic and computational methods, and bioorganic and medicinal chemistry. Total Synthesis is also one of the broadest and deepest educational experiences for aspiring synthetic chemists.
o Organometallic Chemistry
Organometallic Chemistry provides most of the truly innovative techniques for C,C and C-heteroatom bond formations and asymmetric catalysis. Our group has had a long tradition in synthetic applications of transition metals. Novel reactions, such as our recently developed multi-component cyclopropane syntheses, are being applied for combinatorial library production.
o Heterocyclic Chemistry
More than half of all known organic compounds, and the vast majority of drugs, are heterocyclic. We are interested in the development of new stereoselective methods for the preparation of highly functionalized heterocycles. In particular, we have developed novel protocols for five-membered heterocycle synthesis that have been widely adopted in industry and academe.
o Medicinal Chemistry
We apply automated synthesis methods for biological hit generation, lead structure development, and for the structure-activity analysis of bioactive natural products. As part of a cross-disciplinary research environment, we are collaborating with groups in Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology in all areas of drug discovery.
Publications
- "Mutations in the Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase Pathway Predict for Antitumor Activity of the Inhibitor PX-866 whereas Oncogenic Ras is a Sominant Predictor for Resistance." Ihle, N. T.; Lemos, R.; Wipf, P.; Yacoub, A.; Mitchell, C.; Siwak, D.; Mills, G. B.; Dent, P.; Kirkpatrick, D. L.; Powis, G. Cancer Res. 2009, 69, 143-150.
- "A Microwave Assisted Intramolecular-Furan-Diels-Alder Approach to 4-Substituted Indoles." Petronijevic, F.; Timmons, C.; Cuzzupe, A.; Wipf, P. Chem. Commun. 2009, (1), 104-106.
-"Triple Hybrids of Steroids, Spiroketals, and Oligopeptides as New Biomolecular Chimeras." Banerjee, A.; Sergienko, E.; Vasile, S.; Gupta, V.; Vuori, K.; Wipf, P. Org. Lett. 2009, 11(1), 65-68.
- "Potent and Selective Disruption of Protein Kinase D Functionality by a Benzoxoloazepinolone." Sharlow, E. R.; Giridhar, K. V.; LaValle, C. R.; Chen, J.; Leimgruber, S.; Barrett, R.; Bravo-Altamirano, K.; Wipf, P.; Lazo, John S.; Wang, Q. J. J. Biol. Chem. 2008, 283(48), 33516-33526.
-"Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerizations of Bicyclobutanes." Walczak, M. A. A.; Wipf, P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130(22), 6924-6925.
- "A Mitochondria-Targeted Nitroxide/Hemigramicidin S Conjugate Protects Mouse Embryonic Cells Against Gamma Irradiation." Jiang, J.; Belikova, N.; Hoye, A. T.; Zhao, Q.; Epperly, M. W.; Greenberger, J. S.; Wipf, P.; Kagan, V. E. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 2008, 70(3), 816-825.
- "Targeting Mitochondria." Hoye, A. T.; Davoren, J.; Wipf, P.; Fink, M. P.; Kagan, V. E. Acc. Chem. Res. 2008, 41(1), 87?97.
- "Pyrimidinone-Peptoid Hybrid Molecules with Distinct Effects on Molecular Chaperone Function and Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation." Wright, C. M.; Chovatiya, R. J.; Jameson, N. E.; Turner, D. M.; Zhu, G.; Werner, S.; Huryn, D. M.; Pipas, J. M.; Day, B. W.; Wipf, P.; Brodsky, J. L. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2008, 16, 3291-3301.
