Daniel Webb

Summary of MIDD research assistantship

The goals for the Fall semester 2023:

1. Optimize the synthesis of a novel quinoline molecule to be used as a potential anti-cancer drug for our collaborator Westol LLC.
2. Upon optimization of the novel quinoline synthesis. Conduct the synthesis to yield gram quantities of product.
3. Synthesize novel imidazodiazepines GL-III-64 to be evaluated in pre-clinical studies as a treatment for atopic dermatitis.
4. Assist in the development of a novel synthetic route to synthesize a tellurium containing amino acid.
5. Synthesize a novel protein tether polymer for collaborators at the UWM physics department.
6. Purify all compounds to a purity greater than 95%.
7. Characterize all compounds by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Undergraduate student: Grace Wheeler

During my time working in the Arnold group, I had the opportunity to gain experience working with a variety of different synthetic reactions. This includes reactions with extreme water sensitivity in which distillation had to be used to ensure the removal of any residual water. I have also gained experience with oxygen sensitive reactions where any dissolved oxygen had to be removed before the reaction could take place. The experience I have gained working with a wide variety of reactions allowed me to be a part multiple different synthesis projects where I was able to synthesize molecules that have never been made before. I have also had the opportunity to be trained on and use new instruments including a Biotage SP1 and 500 MHz NMR instrument. My time working in the Arnold lab has helped me gain valuable experience that I will use as I pursue graduate schooling for a Bio-chemistry PhD. I will take this experience, and what I have learned in the Arnold lab to further my knowledge in drug development. In the future I hope to accomplish great things and use the skills from working with the Arnold group to my advantage as I grow my career.

Undergraduate student: Mason West

Working in the Arnold group has given me the opportunity to learn new skills which I would have otherwise not have learned that will not help me in my career. During my time in the Arnold group, I had the opportunity to undertake a complex five step synthesis to yield an imidazobenzodiazepine that has the potential to be used as an oral treatment for atopic dermatitis. In conducting this synthesis, I have learned how to manage water sensitive reactions and oxygen sensitive reactions. I have gained experience with acid catalyzed reactions, base catalyzed reactions, and transition metal catalyzed reactions. In synthesizing a molecule that is going to be used in future animal studies, being able to have the purest product possible is extremely important. Therefore, I have gained experience with a variety of purification methods including recrystallization, trituration, and column chromatography to get the best purity possible. All this experience has helped me in my future plans to work in the drug development and pharma industry while also getting me ready for the potential of graduate school.