Dr. Salvatore Lepore

Research Interests

Our research program is divided into two main areas: the synthesis and bioactivity of natural product inspired all-carbon bridged bicyclic compounds with applications in oxidative protection and epilepsy; and non-metal catalyzed cyclitive additions to alkynes leading to therapeutically valuable heterocycles.

Selected Recent Publications

1) Stilley, S. E.; Naraine, A. S.; Yadavalli, K. P.; Maki, S. L.; Jutte, E. M.; Kahn, J. M.; Surtel, A. A.; Lepore, S. D.; Dawson-Scully, K. Bridged Bicyclic Compounds: Comprehending a Novel Compound Class as Potential Anti-Epileptic Agents.  Epilepsia   2023,  64, 2958.

2) Yadavalli, K. P.;  Cummines, J. E.; Carlisle, C. J.; Lepore, S. D. Diastereoselective Additions of H-Phosphinates to Alkenyl Ketones Under Phase-Transfer Conditions.  ChemComm   2022,  58, 6441.  

3) Maki, S. L.; Maity, P.; Dougherty, S.; Johns, J.; Lepore, S. D. Allenoate Pre-Nucleophiles: A Triply Diastereoselective Approach to β-Hydroxy Esters Containing All-Carbon α-Quaternary Centers. Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 7952.

4) Bollinger, W. L.; St. Germain, E. J.; Maki, S. L.; Sial, N. K.; Lepore, S. D.; Dawson-Scully, K. Resveratrol-Inspired Bridged Bicyclic Compounds: A New Compound Class for the Protection of Synaptic Function from Acute Oxidative Stress.  ACS Chem. Neurosci.  2019,  10, 221.

5) Nagy, E.; Lepore, S. D. Alkyne Cycloadditions Mediated by Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride: A Unified and Diversifiable Route to Isoxazolines and Pyrazolines.  Org. Lett.   2017,  19, 3695.

Awards and Recognition 

•   University of Rome (La Sapienza) Visiting Professor Fellowship (Fall 2015)

•   FAU College of Science Full Professor Researcher of the Year Award (2012)

•   FAU College of Science Associate Professor Researcher of the Year (2011)

•   FAU Distinguished Science Teacher of the Year (2019, 2009 & 2003)

•   FAU Researcher of the Year (2006) 

Other Information

•   Associate Editor -  Letters in Organic Chemistry  (Bentham Science) 2017 - Present

•   Grant Reviewer:  National Institutes of Health study sections: SBC-A, MDCN, BCMB-N (Pioneer Award)

•   Scientific Advisory Board Member - CHS Pharma

•   Expert witness for various law firms

•   Consultant for ASE Pharmaceuticals, Florida Crystals, Sunol Biomolecular, Unison Pharmaceuticals, and Xcovery.  2003 – Present

•   Chief Scientist, Custom Synthesis Incorporated (an FAU spin-out company).  2004 – 2006.

•   Chemical Engineer – Delta Environmental Consultants (now Antea USA) Tampa, FL 1991 - 1993.