Ming Joo (MJ) Koh

Atom-swapping in a saturated heterocycle? We report a photocatalytic transmutation strategy in @Nature that exchanges O within an oxetane for N, S, C & even dual atoms, simplifying access to a variety of non-aromatic cyclic pharmacophores & enabling late-stage editing of complex bioactive molecules. Great DFT insights from @XZhangChem. @ChemNUS @ResearchFoS @NUSResearch #skeletalediting #atomswap #photocatalysis #oxetanes #azetidines #thietanes #cyclobutanes #drugdiscovery nature.com/articles/s4158…

We show in @NatureComms an interesting way to restructure oxetanes into either cyclopropanes or benzoheterocycles, enabled by photoinduced oxygen deletion. nature.com/articles/s4146… #skeletalediting #oxygendeletion #ringcontraction #ringremodeling #oxetanes #photochemistry

Just received news of my promotion to Full Professor at @NUSingapore. I sincerely thank my students, co-workers, collaborators, mentors, colleagues, peer reviewers and friends all around the world who've advised, inspired, helped and supported me throughout these 8 years since I began my independent career. I truly appreciate all of you and will always be grateful! The journey in scientific discovery continues. @ChemNUS @ResearchFoS #chemistry #science #nus #singapore

Atom swapping arrives for 5-membered cyclic ethers cen.acs.org/synthesis/Atom… via @cenmag

Figuring out a way to swap atoms in saturated furans & pyrans? Check out our latest work in O-atom transmutation of non-strained cyclic ethers using classical PPh3/NBS chemistry. Albeit less chemoselective than our previous photocatalytic approach for oxetanes, this method works well for 4- to 7-membered saturated rings to enable O-to-X (X = N, S, Se, or C) replacement. Through this strategy, we could now readily access analogs of bioactive molecules such as empagliflozin, the billion-dollar drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. Read our work in @Chem_CP. sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #skeletalediting #atomswap #transmutation #cyclicethers