Ming-Jung Wu
Ph.D. in Chemistry
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Professor
Faculty of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry
Kaohsiung Medical University
100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Tel: +886-7-3121101 ext 2220
Fax: +886-7-3125339
E-mail: mijuwu@cc.kmu.edu.tw
EDUCATION:
B.S. 1979, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Ph.D. 1987, Clemson University, USA
WORKING EXPERIENCE:
Postdoctoral researcher, 1987-1989, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Postdoctoral researcher, 1989-1990, SmithKline & Beecham Pharmaceuticals, USA
Associate Professor, 1990-1994, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Professor, 1994-present, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Research Associate Professor, 1995-1996, Clemson University, USA
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My current research interests are focusing on three major areas: 1) design and
synthesis of new potent antitumor agents. In this project, we found several enediyne
containing molecules show good growth inhibition activity against many human
tumor cell lines. Further study indicates that some of these molecules display a
significant G2/M arrest in the cell growth cycle; 2) development of new synthetic
methodologies. During the past few years, we reported that treatment of
2-(6-substituted 3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)benzonitriles with sodium methoxide in methanol
gave phenanthridinones or biaryls depend on the reaction conditions, cyclization of
2-(6-substituted 3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)phenyl tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers gave the
dibenzofuranes and cyclization of 2-(6-substituted 3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)anilines
provided the carbazoles in excellent chemical yields. By this method, we provide an
efficient synthetic route to prepare a variety of pharmaceutical or material interested
molecules; 3) organometallics towards organic synthesis. In this project, we have
accomplished the palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl iodides with
2-alkynylbenzonitriles to give the isoquinolinones and isoindolones; addition of aryl
iodides to diarylacetylenes to give the triarylacetylenes; selective reduction of
acetylenes; synthesis of 2-diarylmethylenecyclopentanones and synthesis of
3-benzofuranones.
In addition to my own independent research, I am also actively involving in
collaborative research projects. One particular example is to cooperate with Dr.
Jeh-Jeng Wang, Chairman of Faculty of Biotecnology and Dr. Wen-Chun Hung,
director of Functional Proteomic Research Center, in the project of development of
new potent antitumor drugs. Another example is to cooperate with Dr. Yang-Chang
Wu, director of Graduate Institute of Natural Products, in the project of synthesis and
biological activity evaluation of annonaceous acetogenins.
PUBLICATIONS (within five years)
1. Y.H. Lo, C.F. Lin, M.C Hsieh, M.J Wu, 2004 “Remarkable G2/M Phase Arrest
and Apoptotic Effect Performed by 2-(6-Aryl-3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)benzonitrile
Antitumor Agents” Bioorg. & Med. Chem., (in press)
2. J.W. Hoffman, R. Mabon, M.J. Wu, J. Lu, R. Hart, DP. Hurst, P.H. Reggio, J.L.
Wiley, B.R. Martin, 2003 “3-Indolyl-1-naphthylmethanes: New Cannabimimetic
Indoles Provide Evidence for Aromatic Stacking Interactions with the CB1
Cannabinoid Receptor” Bioorg. & Med. Chem., 11, 539.
3. C.F. Lin, W.D. Lu, I.W. Wang, M.J. Wu, 2003 “Synthesis of
2-(Diarylmethylene)-3-benzofuranones Promoted via Palladium-Catalyzed
Reaction of Aryl iodides with 3-Aryl-1-(2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)
phenyl-2-propyn-1-ones” Synlett, 13, 2057.
4. J.L. Lee, C.F. Lin, L.Y. Hsieh, W.R. Lin, H.F. Chiu, Y.C. Wu, K.S. Wang, M.J.
Wu, 2003 “Synthesis of (15S, 16S, 21R)-4-Deoxyrollicosin Analog” Tetrahedron
Lett., 44, 7833.
5. C.C. Liaw, F.R. Chang, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 2003 “A Novel Constituent from
Rollinia mucosa, Rollicosin, and a New Approach to Develop Annonaceous
Acetogenins as Potential Antitumor Agents” J. Nat. Prod, 66, 279.
6. H.F. Chiu, T.T. Chih, Y.M. Hsian, C.H. Tseng, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 2003
“Bullatacin, a potent antitumor Annonaceous acetogenin, induces apoptosis
through a reduction of intracellular cAMP and cGMP levels in human hepatoma
2.2.15 cells” Biochemical Pharmacology, 65, 319.
7. W.B. Pan, F.R. Chang, L.M. Wei, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 2003 “New and efficient
method for esterification of carboxylic acids with simple primary and secondary
alcohols using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate(CAN)” Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 331.
8. L.M. Wei, L.L. Wei, W.B. Pan, M.J. Wu, 2003 “Palladium-catalyzed ring
expansion reaction of 1-alkynylcyclobutanols with aryl iodides: an efficient route
to 2-disubstituted methylenecyclopentanones” Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 595.
9. L.L. Wei, L.M. Wei, W.B. Pan, M.J. Wu, 2003 “Selective reduction of alkynes
catalyzed by palladium acetate with sodium methoxide as the hydride source”
Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 1979.
10. M.J. Wu, C.Y. Lee, C.F. Lin, 2002 “A New Route to 5-Substituted Dibenzofurans
via Anionic Cycloarmatization of 2-(6-Substituted 3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)phenyl
t-butyldimethyl ether and the Related Molecules” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 41,
4077.
11. M.J. Wu, W.D. Lu, C.F. Lin, 2002 ”Anionic Cycloaromatization of
(Z)-2-(6-Substituted-3-Hexen-1,5-diynyl)bezonitriles Initiated by Methoxide
Addition: Synthesis of Phenanthridinones, Benzo[c]phenanthridinones and
Biaryls” J. Org. Chem. 67, 5907.
12. C.F. Lin, W.D. Lu, P.C. Hsieh, Y.H. Kuo, C.J. Wang, M.J. Wu, 2002 ”
Cytotoxicities and Topoisomerase I Inhibitory Activities of
2-(2-(2-Alkynylphenyl)ethynyl)benzonitiles, 1-Aryl-3-decen-1,5-diynes and Their
Related Bi-enediyne Derivatives” Helv. Chim. Acta. 8, 2564.
13. W.D. Lu, C.F. Lin, C.J. Wang, S.J. Wang, M.J. Wu, 2002 ” Substituent Effect on
Anionic Cycloaromatization of 2-(2-Substituted ethynyl)benzonitriles and Related
Molecules” Tetrahedron, 36, 7315.
14. M.J Wu, L.M Wei, C.F Lin, S.P Leou, L.L Wei, 2001 "Palladium-Catalyzed
Reactions of Aryl Iodides with Trimethylsilylacetylenes and Disubstituted
Alkynes ：The Synthesis of Diarylacetylenes and Triarylethylenes" Tetrahedron.,
57, 7839.
15. C.F. Lin, P.C. Hsieh, W.D. Lu, H.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, 2001 "A Series of
Enediynes as Novel Inhibitors of Topoisomerase I " J. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 9,
1707.
16. C.F Lin, J.H. Yang, P.C. Hsieh, W.D. Lu, M.J. Wu, 2001 "Solvent Effects on
Aza-anionic Cycloaromatization of 2-(2-Substituted-ethynyl) benzonitriles " J.
Chin. Chem. Soc., 48, 211.
17. L.M. Wei, C.F. Lin, M.J. Wu, 2000 "Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling of Aryl
Iodides with 2-Alkynylbenzonitriles" Tetrahedron Lett. 41, 1215.
18. C.C. Liaw, F.R. Chang, Y.Y. Chen, H.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 1999 "New
Annonaceous Acetogenins from Rollinia mucosa" J. Nat. Prod, 62,1613.
19. F.R. Chang, J.L. Chen, C.Y. Lin, H.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 1999 "Bioactive
acetogenins from the Seeds of Annona acetemoya" Phytochemistry , 51, 883.
20. S.H. Tsai, P.C. Hsieh, L.L. Wei, H.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, 1999 "Synthesis of a
Hydroxylated Muricatacin Analog Related to Squamocin" Tetrahedron Lett, 40,
1975.
21. C.Y. Chen, F.R. Chang, F.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 1999 "New Annonaceous
Acetogenin from Annona Cherimola" Phytochemistry, 51, 429.
22. M.J. Wu, C.F. Lin, S.H. Chen, 1999 "Double Anionic Cycloaromatzation
(6-Substituted-3-hexene-1,5-diynyl)benzonitriles Initiated by Methoxide
Addition" Org. Lett., 1, 767.
23. M.J Wu, L.J. Chang, L.M. Wei, C.F. Lin, 1999 "A Direct Anionic Cyclization of
2-Alkynylbenzonitriles to 3-Substituted (2H)-isoquinolones and
3-Benzylideneisoindo-2-ones Initiated by Methoxide Addition" Tetrahedron, 55,
13193.
24. M.J. Wu, C.F. Lin, S.H. Chen, F.C. Lee, 1999 "Thermolysis of
2-(3-Phenylsufonyl-l-propynyl)benzonitrile: An Aza-Myers Type Cyclization to
Isoquinolines." , J. Chem. Sec. Perkin Trans I, 2875.
25. C.L. Chen, F.R. Chang, Y.Y. Chen, F.F. Chiu, M.J. Wu, Y.C. Wu, 1998 "Novel
Acetogenin from the Seeds of Annona Reticulata" Phytochemistry, 6, 1057.
26. M.J. Wu, C. F. Lin, L.J. Chang, P.T. Jing, P.T. Jing, T.H. Duh, W.T. Tseng, F.C.
Lee, S.S. Wang, H.O. Chang, 1998 "Synthesis and Biological Activities of
Molecules Containing Propargyl Sulfone and Related Compounds", J. Chin.
Chem. Sec, 45,783.
27. J.W. Huffman, M.J. Wu, J. Lu, 1998 "A Very Facile SNAr Reaction with
Elimination of Methoxide" J. Org. Chem, 63, 4510.
28. M.J. Wu, C.F. Lin, P.T. Jing, L.J. Chang, T.H. Duh, H. T. Chen, 1998
"Allene-eneyne Related Cycloaromatization: Design and Synthesis of New
DNA-cleaving Compounds", J. Chin. Chem. Sec, 45, 475.