Previous Research Experience
As an undergraduate student at Bridgewater State College, I worked with Dr. Ed Brush on the synthesis of oxindole ring-based enzyme inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents. My main goal was a green synthesis of 3-bromooxindole-3-acetic acid, a precursor to a number of potential inhibitors. A (Ni,Al)LDH-WO42- catalyst, working in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide, was utilized to oxidize bromide salts for electrophilic addition. This greatly increased the atom economy over the standard reaction which employed N-bromosuccinimide. Replacement of the solvent and reagent tert-butanol with acetic acid was also achieved. I also investigated the potential use of solventless conditions.