Organic Divisional Seminar - Prof. Sunkyu Han (KAIST) | School of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Tuesday

September 1, 2026

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Contact

Host: Justin Kim

Location

MoSE 3201A

Title: Syntheses of Complex Securinega Alkaloids and Beyond

Abstract:

Securinega alkaloids have fascinated the chemistry community for more than six decades. Within this family of secondary metabolites, several structurally complex members are biosynthetically derived through oxidation of the tetracyclic Securinega monomers. In this presentation, I will discuss our group’s recent discoveries in the chemical synthesis of highly oxidized Securinega alkaloids. I will also highlight research extending beyond total synthesis, including the development of a Securinega alkaloid-based molecular photoswitch, the chemically guided elucidation of (allo)securinine biosynthesis, and the anticipation and subsequent discovery of natural products through chemical synthesis.

Bio:

Sunkyu Han is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where he has served on the faculty since 2014 and was promoted to full Professor in 2024. He received his B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from KAIST. He then earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012 under the supervision of Professor Mo Movassaghi, followed by postdoctoral studies at Yale University with Professor Scott J. Miller.

Professor Han’s research centers on the total synthesis of complex natural products, natural product-inspired synthetic methods development, and the translation of natural products into functional molecules and biologically relevant therapeutics. His laboratory is particularly well known for pioneering studies on Securinega alkaloids, where his group has achieved the synthesis of numerous high-oxidation-state and dimeric members of this fascinating family, often through biosynthetically inspired strategy. In addition to advancing synthetic strategy, his work has contributed to structure revision, the anticipation and discovery of previously unknown natural products through chemical synthesis, and the development of natural product-derived bioactive compounds and functional materials.

His research accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2019), the Hanseong Science Award (2019), the KAIST LINKGENESIS Best Teacher Award (2019), the Korean Chemical Society (KCS) Division of Organic Chemistry Young Organic Chemist Award (2020), the KCS-Wiley Young Chemist Award (2022), the Young Scientist Award from the President of the Republic of Korea (2022), the Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Academic Award (2025), and the Synlett Best Paper Award 2024 (2025). He has also received distinguished lectureship awards from MIT and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, reflecting the international visibility of his work in synthetic organic chemistry.

Professor Han is an active contributor to the organic chemistry community through editorial and professional services. He has been serving as an Associate Editor of Organic Letters since 2025 and has been an Editorial Advisory Board Member of The Journal of Organic Chemistry since 2020. Professor Han has also served as a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses since August 2026.

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Tuesday

September 1, 2026

School of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Georgia Institute of Technology