Frank Gupton
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Research professor |
Education
B.S., University of Richmond
M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
Research interests
Research in the Gupton group focuses on the development of organic process methodologies that can be applied in commercial pharmaceutical applications. Specific areas of interest include the synthesis of strategic heterocyclic compounds from acyclic precursors, asymmetric reductions, and the use of microwave and microreacton technology to improve chemical process efficiencies.
Heterocyclic Chemistry
Heterocyclic molecules have a wide variety of applications in organic synthesis and are routinely used as strategic building blocks in pharmaceutical process development and biomedical applications. The advancement of novel synthetic strategies for the preparation of multi-functional pyridines and imidazoles from commercially available acyclic precursors is of specific interest within the group. The synthetic methods developed for these compounds are currently directed toward applications in the production of cardio-vascular and anti-viral pharmaceutical products.
Asymmetric Reductions
Enantioselectivity in organic synthesis has been of interest in pharmaceutical process development due to the need to produce the biologically active form of the drug substance. For this reason, chiral alcohols and chiral amines are of importance as strategic raw materials in drug synthesis. The group is interested in the development and application of asymmetric reducing agents that can be employed for the enantioselective synthesis of alcohols and amines which can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
Microwave and Microreacton Technology
Microwaves have been used to enhance chemical reaction rates and improve yields in the laboratory-scale organic syntheses. However, the application of this technology has been limited primarily to small scale operations due to the difficulties associated with process scale up. Likewise, modular microreacton technology is a relatively new field of research which employs the modular elements of mixing, heating and cooling on a micro-scale. The group is interested in partnering these two technologies to develop chemistry that will support high-throughput synthesis for drug development as well as commercial applications.
Select patents and references:
U.S. Patent 6,680,383: Process for Making Nevirapine: B.F. Gupton, R. F. Boswell and Y. S. Lo
U.S. Patent 6,399,781: Process for Making 3-Amino-2-chloro-4-methylpyridine: B.F. Gupton
U.S. Patent 5,430,152: Preparation of Quinolone Carboxylic Acids: B.F. Gupton and J.C. Saukaitis
U.S. Patent 5,405,987: N-Hydroxyaspartic Acid Derivatives Preparation: V. Elango, J.R. Fritch, D.R. Larkin, M.P. Bodman, B.F. Gupton, W.H. Mueller and J.S. Saukaitis
U.S. Patent 5,208,342: Preparation of Imidazolanones for Herbicide Applications: B.F. Gupton, and J.S. Saukaitis
U.S. Patent 5,047,542: Process for Preparing Pyridine Carboxylic Acid Esters: B.F. Gupton, W.H. Mueller and J.S. Saukaitis
Burger’s Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, 6th Edition, Vol. 2, Ch. 12: Large Scale Synthesis: B. Frank Gupton and Karl Groezinger., pp.407-430.
