Phosphorylation is essential to virtually all physiological processes. Enzymes in the body such as kinases and phosphorylases often control the activity of proteins through phosphorylation of alcohols. Pharmaceuticals take advantage of this process by creating “pro-drugs” that are initially biologically inactive until activated by phosphorylation (or dephosphorylation) once inside the cell. Our research has historically focused on phosphorylating a wide variety of alcohol substrates with different pyrophosphates as the phosphorylating agent. More recently, we have focused on the development of chlorophosphates containing aryl-fluorine bonds. About 30% of all pharmaceuticals contain a fluorine, due to the metabolic stability and lipophilicity it imparts to compounds. We hope to incorporate the phosphate and fluorine in a single step in the hopes of affording compounds with novel properties.

Phosphorylation of alcohols with fluorinated phosphorylating agent

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.