Prof. Martin Tomanik, NYU

Title: Radical-Triggered Functional Group Translocation Cascade and Total Synthesis of (+)-Talaromyolide D

Abstract: Within the realm of precise chemoselective manipulations, site-selective functional group translocation via C–H functionalization chemistry presents an exciting opportunity to unlock noncanonical synthetic disconnections. I will highlight the development of a novel radical-triggered annulative alkene transposition cascade that enables the modular preparation of valuable spirocycles from simple alkenol starting materials. In the second part, I will discuss our synthetic strategy toward the highly oxidized and bioactive meroterpenoid natural product, Talaromyolide D. Our approach leverages efficient C–H disconnection logic to elaborate the polycyclic core of the target, along with several highly diastereoselective transformations, including an electrocatalytic sp²–sp³ cross-coupling.

Biosketch: Martin was born in the Czech Republic and attended Dartmouth College for his undergraduate studies. In 2016, he began his doctoral studies at Yale University under the mentorship of Prof. Seth Herzon, focusing on natural product total synthesis. In the summer of 2021, Martin moved to San Diego to pursue postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Prof. Jin-Quan Yu at The Scripps Research Institute. In 2023, he then joined the faculty at New York University as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, where his lab’s research focuses on the synthesis of complex bioactive natural products and the development of new synthetic methods leveraging C–H functionalization chemistry.