Research in the Howell group encompasses projects involving method development, total synthesis and the interface of chemistry and biology.  The latter includes two main programs focused on the synthesis and biological evaluation of sphingolipids (for autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases) and of novel nucleosides (with antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial potential).  The majority of our projects radiate from a central core of a strained, compact heterocycle.  For example, a number of years ago we developed the first general synthesis of 2-methyleneoxetanes.  Our conviction was that the combination of a strained oxetane and an exocyclic enol ether represented a scaffold with useful reactivity.  This belief would appear to have been justified, and the reactivity of the 2-methyleneoxetanes and related heterocycles is shown on the following pages.

Here are some of our projects: