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Contact |
T.G. Back Telephone: (403)220-6256 |
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Academic Background |
B.Sc. (Honours
Chemistry), McGill University, 1968 |
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Academic, Research and Industrial Experience |
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Awards and Distinctions |
Alfred Bader
Award of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (2008) – For
distinction in organic chemistry research carried out in Faculty of
Science Research Excellence Award (2006) Killam Resident Fellowship – This award was to provide time free of teaching and administration during 1998 for the completion of a book entitled “Organoselenium Chemistry – A Practical Approach” for Oxford University Press. Fellowship of the Japanese
Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) – The award was for visiting and lecturing
at 6 Japanese universities and for presenting a plenary lecture at a conference
in Fellow of the Chemical
Institute of |
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Recent Research Contributions Our work is in the general area of design and synthesis of biologically interesting organic molecules. The development of new synthetic reactions and reagents, and the understanding of related mechanisms, is also part of the overall program. Some specific projects include: |
Alkaloid synthesis: We are studying novel cyclizations of unsaturated sulfones that provide access to variously substituted piperidines, pyrrolizidines, indolizidines, quinolizidines and quinolines, which comprise the core structures of numerous alkaloids and synthetic drugs. Recent targets include several dendrobatid alkaloids found in the skin secretions of certain species of neotropical frogs (some have potential medicinal applications as, e.g. cardiotonic agents), macrocyclic amines such as the motuporamines that have anticancer activity and the antiviral compound virantmycin. Details Selenium chiral auxiliaries, catalysts and antioxidants: Selenium compounds play a role as natural antioxidants in the protection of living cells from oxidative stress that accompanies aerobic metabolism. We are engaged in designing synthetic compounds with improved antioxidant properties that have potential as therapeutic agents. Another area of investigation is the design of new chiral auxiliaries and catalysts for enantioselective synthetic transformations. Details Brassinosteroids: Brassinolide is a remarkably potent phytohormone that has measurable effects at doses as low as 1 nanogram/plant. We recently developed the most efficient synthesis to date of this compound and, in collaboration with R.P. Pharis (Dept. of Biological Sciences), have prepared and subjected to bioassay ca. 50 novel analogues for structure–activity studies, including two “superbrassinolides” with activity exceeding that of the natural product. We have also designed and synthesized a series of brassinolide mimetics with simpler structures that display remarkable bioactivity and are cheaper to produce. Details Vinylogous aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman chemistry: MBH reactions of activated dienes with imines afford adducts that can be converted into a variety of useful products, such as synthetically and medicinally useful dehydropiperidines, soindolines and azafluorenone alkaloids. Details Desulfurization: We are investigating metal borides as powerful reagents for the reductive desulfurization of organosulfur compounds. Potential applications exist in the fuel-processing industry and in the invention of new synthetic protocols for the laboratory. Details ACT Pharma Inc.: A new start-up company was founded in 2001 by F. Snyder (Faculty of Medicine), T.G. Back and University Technologies International for the discovery and commercialization of certain types of nucleoside-based therapeutics. Details Cardiovascular therapies: A recent collaboration with S.R.W. Chen (Faculty of Medicine) is directed toward the design and synthesis of a new class of drugs for the treatment of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Several lead candidates have been identified. Details |
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Funding |
We thank the following organizations for their generous support of our current and recent work:
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Publications |
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Current Group Members |
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Outdoor
Adventures |
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Group Photo |
Members of the TGB research group in May, 2009; left to right: Tim Gao, Dr. Aixia Wang, Dr. Chris Smith, Violeta Iosub, Eric Mercier , Kristen Clary, Dr. Vijai Rai, Anton Haberl, Shanti Horvath, David Press and Mitch Weston.
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Photos
from Mountain
Outings |
Dusan Kuzma contemplates the world far below
from the Fortress summit
Starting up the scenic south ridge of
Negotiating the connecting ridge between the
S. and N. summits of
Dave, Tim, Huu-Anh and Aixia on the summit of
Tom Back ice climbing in the
Dave Press begins the climb up the Scottish Gully near Canmore
Nicole L.,
David, Anton and Chris take a break near the summit of
Aixia and Tim take in the view just below the summit of
On the summit
at last!
Traversing along the crest of Nihahi Ridge (the smoke in the air that day was from BC forest fires)
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Links |
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Opportunities |
Persons interested in graduate or PDF research in our group may contact Dr. Back directly through one of the methods given above. Additional information about
our department and the |
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This page updated
September, 2010 |
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