Postdoc Position st NIH

Synthetic Organic/Medicinal Chemist at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Kenner C. Rice
http://irp.drugabuse.gov/Rice.php

A postdoctoral position is available for an organic chemist to work on multi-step synthesis of mostly
nitrogenous small molecules on a multigram scale in the Drug Design and Synthesis Section, NIDA
Intramural Research Program, Rockville, MD. Our major research direction is the elucidation of the
structure and function of neurotransmitter systems in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS)
in normal, drug-altered, and pathological states and the molecular mechanism of action of CNS active
drugs. Organic/medicinal chemistry is the foundation of the multidisciplinary approach utilized in these
studies that requires the rational design and chemical synthesis of novel agonists, antagonists,
imaging agents, affinity ligands, and other drugs for particular applications.
Candidates must possess a Ph.D. degree and synthetic chemistry experience. Interest in the chemical synthesis of complex organic molecules, optical resolution of racemates, and crystallization, is required, as well as the desire to collaborate with colleagues in various pharmacological and other diverse scientific disciplines.

Representive Publications:
Li, F., Cheng, K., Antoline, J. F. G., Iyer, M. R., Matyas, G. R., Torres, O., Jalah, R., Beck, Z., Alving, C. R., Parrish, D. A., Deschamps, J. R., Jacobson, A. E. and Rice, K. C.: Synthesis and Immunological Effects of Heroin Vaccines. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2014, 12, 7211-7232. This paper was featured of the outside cover of its issue. See also “Vaccines for Heroin” by Richard Kelley, August 19th 2014 at the OBC blog at http://blogs.rsc.org/ob/

Selfridge, B. R., Deschamps, J. R., Jacobson, A. E., Rice, K. C. Synthesis of Enantiopure 10-Nornaltrexones in the Search for Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4) Antagonists and Opioid Ligands. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2014, 79, 5007-5018. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jo500568s

Xiong, W., Chen, S-H., He, L., Cheng, K., Zhao, Y-L., Chen, H., Li, D-P., Homanics, G. E., Peever, J., Rice, K. C., Wu, L-G., Pan, H-L., Zhang, L. (2014). Presynaptic Glycine Receptors As A Potential Therapeutic Target In Hyperekplexia Disease. Nature Neuroscience, 2014, 17, 232-239.
http://www.nature.com.ezproxy.nihlibrary.nih.gov/neuro/journal/v17/n2/full/nn.3615.html

Lim, H. J., Dersch, C. M., Rothman, R. B., Deschamps, J. R., Jacobson, A. E., Rice, K. C. Probes for Narcotic Receptor Mediated Phenomena. 48. C7- And C8-Substituted 5-Phenylmorphan Opioids from
Diastereoselective Alkylation. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2013, 67, 335-343.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.nihlibrary.nih.gov/science/article/pii/S022352341300398X

Li, F., Deck, J. A., Dersch, C. M., Rothman, R. B., Deschamps, J. R., Jacobson, A. E., Rice, K. C. (2012)
Probes for Narcotic Receptor Mediated Phenomena. 46. N-Substituted-2,3,4,9,10,10a-Hexahydro-1H-1,4a- (Epiminoethano)Phenanthren-6- And 8-ols - Carbocyclic Relatives of F-Oxide Bridged Phenylmorphans. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2012, 58, 557-567.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.nihlibrary.nih.gov/science/article/pii/S0223523412006459

Boos, T. L., Cheng, K., Greiner, E., Deschamps, J. R., Jacobson, A. E., Rice, K. C. Configurational
Reassignment and Improved Preparation of the Competitive IL-6 Receptor Antagonist 20R,21REpoxyresibufogenin-
3-formate. Journal of Natural Products, 2012, 75, 661-668.