The Speaker:

Lee J. Silverberg is a Senior Development Associate in Chemical Process Research and Development in the Pharmaceutical Materials Division of Johnson Matthey. Dr. Silverberg joined JM at the West Deptford site in 1997. Prior to that, Dr. Silverberg worked for six years at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in Syracuse, NY, as part of the Process Exploration Laboratories group in the Technical Operations Division. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1991 from the University of Delaware. He studied there with Richard F. Heck, who retired in 1989, and Douglass F. Taber. Under Prof. Heck's supervision, he studied the palladium-catalyzed reactions of alkynes. In Prof. Taber's group, he completed a total synthesis of (+)-Brefeldin A, and studied low-pressure enantioselective hydrogenations of b-keto esters. He is a 1986 graduate of George Washington University, where he majored in chemistry and minored in journalism. His current chemistry interests remain asymmetric synthesis and organometallic catalysis. His other interests include spending time with his wife and two beagles, competitive rowing, and music.

The Talk:

Etoposide is a frequently used anticancer agent. It is a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring podophyllotoxin. Etoposide is not water-soluble and is difficult to administer. This fact led to the development of etoposide 4'-phosphate (etopophos), a water-soluble derivative of etoposide, which acts as a prodrug having the same activity as etoposide in vivo, since the phosphate is cleaved enzymatically. Presented in this talk are short, practical syntheses of both etopophos and etoposide, producing each in good yield and high purity. Both syntheses are readily scalable and are being used by Bristol-Myers Squibb to produce the compounds in bulk. The chemistry and the process development aspects will be discussed.

The March meeting will be held at Peking Buffet Collegetown Shopping Ctr.. The restaurant is located at Delsea Dr. (Rt 47) & Heston Rd., Glassboro, NJ. You can also call them at 856-881-4055 for additional directions.

Social Hour: 5:30-6:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Talk: 7:30 PM

Dinner choices: Buffet

Cost: $15 members and guests, $10 students

Reservation by Friday, March17.

Donna D'Emilio (856) 256-4856
Michael Casner (856) 384-7048
Jim Gleeson (856) 224-2947