• Royce Fellowship
Jonathan
Truong

Concentration 

Chemistry

Award Year 

2011
Development of New Chemical Methods in the Synthesis of Antibiotic Derivatives

Faculty Sponsor: Jason Sello

Using a recently developed set of innovative reactions, Jonathan prepared derivatives of a potent class of antibiotics known as “cyclic acyldepsipeptide”. These compounds have attracted much attention because of their unprecedented ability to circumvent drug resistances in bacteria. Thus, this research improved an understanding of how these antibiotics are effective against pathogenic bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In utilizing new chemical methods, this project will benefit scientists working in the area of medicinal chemistry and potentially patients battling infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Jon is a Senior Research Associate at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA. He develops process-friendly syntheses and crystallizations following GLP practices to meet project goals and deadlines and assists in technology transfers to CMOs for GMP manufacturing of drug substances.