H.H. Wasserman

Professor Emeritus, Organic Chemistry
E-mail: harry.wasserman@yale.edu

Biographical Sketch

B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1941
Ph.D. Harvard University, 1949
Joined Yale faculty 1948
Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences
Member of the Board of Directors, The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
Guggenheim Fellow, 1959
Chemical Manufacturers Association Catalyst Award, 1985
ACS Aldrich Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 1987
Cope Scholar Award, 1990
Merit Award, N.I.H., 1994

Research Description

My research interests have involved the chemistry of reactive intermediates with the goal of developing new reactions applicable to the field of organic synthesis. Many of these methods have been applied in the synthesis of bioactive products such as marine metabolites, protease inhibitors and immunosuppressants. Among reagents studied have been singlet oxygen and vicinal tricarbonyls used as polyelectrophiles.

Selected References

H. H. Wasserman, R. Zhang, Application of Cyano Ylide Methodology to the Synthesis of Cyclotheonamides E₂ and E₃. Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 6277.
H. H. Wasserman, R. P. Robinson, β-Lactams as Building Blocks in the Synthesis of Macrocyclic Spermine and Spermidine Alkaloids, Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 7177.
H. H. Wasserman, Y. O. Long, R. Zhang, J. Parr, Formation of Heterocyclic Derivatives of α-Amino Acids Using Vicinal Tricarbonyl Methodology, Heterocycles 2002, 58, 393.
H. H. Wasserman, Y.O. Long, J. Parr, α,β-Diketo Nitriles as Dielectrophiles. Formation of Heterocyclic Derivatives of Amino Acids, Tetrahedron Letters 2003, 44, 361.
H. H. Wasserman, A.K. Petersen, M. Xia, Application of Acyl Cyanophosphorane Methodology to the Synthesis of Protease Inhibitors. Poststatin, Eurystatin, Phebestin, Probestin and Bestatin, Tetrahedron 2003, 59, 6771.
H. H. Wasserman, M. Xia, J. Wang, A. K. Petersen, M. Jorgensen, P. Power, J. Parr, Singlet oxygen reactions of 3-methoxy-2-pyrrole carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters. A route to 5-substituted pyrrole precursors of prodigiosin and analogs, Tetrehedron 2004, 60, 7419.
H.H. Wasserman, J. Parr, The Chemistry of Vicinal Tricarbonyls and Related Systems, Accounts of Chemical Research 2004, 37, 687-701.

Last modified: July 10, 2005 (kp)

H. H. Wasserman
Professor Emeritus