Josh Pierce

Bio

Josh is employing synthetic chemistry to tackle problems in chemical biology and drug discovery. Through the development of novel reactions he aims to synthesize complex natural products and use targeted modifications to lend insight into their biological mechanism of action. Ultimately, these efforts will uncover novel drug lead compounds for further development. Josh was named the Director of the NC State Integrative Sciences Initiative in 2022.

Publications

• An enantioselective formal synthesis of thienamycin , TETRAHEDRON LETTERS (2024)
• Expanded library of novel 2,3-pyrrolidinedione analogues exhibit anti-biofilm activity , BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS (2024)
• Fighting fibrin with fibrin: Vancomycin delivery into coagulase-mediated Staphylococcus aureus biofilms via fibrin-based nanoparticle binding , JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A (2024)
• Pyrrolidine-2,3-diones: heterocyclic scaffolds that inhibit and eradicate S. aureus biofilms , CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS (2024)
• Synthesis of Spiropyrrolines via One-Pot Tf₂O-Mediated Amide Activation/Formal [3+2]-Cycloaddition of α-Formylamino Ketones , JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (2024)
• Total Synthesis and Microbiological Evaluation of Leopolic Acid A and Analogues , ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU (2024)
• Toxicology study of a tissue anchoring paclitaxel prodrug , BMC PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY (2024)
• 3-Component Approach to 1,5-Dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one Heterocycles , ORGANIC SYNTHESES (2023)
• Photoredox Catalyzed C(sp³)-C(sp³) Coupling of α-Bromoesters and Triethylamine , JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (2023)
• Using Stem Mini-Organs to Find New Cures , (2023)